FA 


Field   Columbian   Museum 

Publication  21. 

Anthropological  Series.  Vol.  II,  No.  1 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  A  COLLEC- 
TION  OF  PAPUAN  CRANIA 

BY 

George  A.  Dorsey, 
Assistant  Curator,   Department  of  Anthropology. 

WITH    NOTES    OX 

PRESERVATION   AND  DECORATIVE   FEATURES 

BY 

William    H.  Holmes, 
Curator,   Department  of  Anthropology. 


UNIVERSI 


Chicago,  U.  S.  A 

August,    1897. 
THE  LIBRARY  C? 

FEB1 
UNIVERSITY  8F  UKAietS 


PUBLICATIONS 


OF    THE 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM 


ANTHROPOLOGICAL  SERIES 


Volume  II. 


Chicago,  U.  S.  A. 

1897-1903* 


*For  date  of  issue  of  each  paper  see  Table  of  Contents. 


L.ob 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Pages 
Observations  on  a  Collection  of  Papuan  Crania.  (August,  1897.) 

George  A.  Dorsey.     (Plates  I-X.) 1-40 

Preservation  and  Decorative  Features  of  Papuan  Crania.  (August,  1897.) 

William  H.  Holmes.'    (Plate  XL,  Fig.  1-22.) 41-  49 

A  Bibliography  of  the  Anthropology  of  Peru.     (Jan.,  1898.) 

George  A.  Dorsey -   50-206 

Ruins  of  Xkichmook,  Yucatan.     (July,  1898.) 

Edward  H.  Thompson.     (Plates  XII-XXVII.,  Fig.  23-36.) 207-230 

An  Aboriginal  Quartzite  Quarry  in  Eastern  Wyoming.    (Dec,  1900.) 

George  A.  Dorsey.    (Plates  XXVIII-XXXIX.) 231-243 

Archaeological  Investigations  on  the  Island  of  La  Plata,  Ecuador. 

(April,  1901.) 

George  A.  Dorsey.    (Plates  XL-CIL,  Fig.  37-46.) 244-280 

1 

Traditions  of  the  Crows.    (October,  1903.) 

S.  C.  Simms 281-324 


Field   Columbian  Museum 

Publication  21. 

Anthropological  Series.  Vol.  II,  No.   1. 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  A  COLLEC- 
TION OF  PAPUAN  CRANIA 

BY 

George  A.   Doksey, 

Assistant  Curator,    Department  of  Anthropology. 
WITH    NOTES    ON 

PRESERVATION   AND  DECORATIVE   FEATURES 

BY 

William    H.  Holmes, 

Curator,   Department  of  Anthropology. 
LIBRARY 

Cr    i~i 

UNIVERSITY  of  ILLINOIS. 


Chicago,  U.  S.  A 

August,    1897. 
THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

FEB  17  1938 
wnmn  of  *um& 


* 


bo 


57  2,.  05 
FA, 
Y.  2/ 


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In 


^  OBSERVATIONS 


COLLECTION    OF   PAPUAN    CRANIA. 
By  George  A.  Dorsey. 

WITH   NOTES  ON 

PRESERVATION    and    DECORATIVE    FEATURES. 
By  William   H.  Holmes. 


i 


CONTENTS. 

Fagk. 
Introduction,  .........        j 

Craniological  observations,        -------  g 

Male  Crania,      -  -  ------        9 

Female  Crania,       --------  2o 

Child's  Cranium,           -            -            -            -            -            ...  -29 

Table  of  Papuan  Crania,    -------  30 

General  Summary,               -            -  31 

Summary,      ---------  3Q 

Origin  of  crania,      ------                        -  -       41 

Skulls  of  friends  and  foes  preserved,  ------  41 

Care  of  crania,  ---------      42 

Embellishment  of  crania,        -  45 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

p.  atv  Opposite 

rLAlh'  page. 

I.      Two  views  of  male  skull,    -                                                  -            -  -       10 

II.     Two  views  of  male  skull,          -            -            -            -            -            -  12 

III.  Views  of  male  and  female  skulls,              -            -            -            -  14 

IV.  Two  views  of  male  skull,          -----  16 
V.    Two  views  of  female  skull,            -            -            -            -            -  -      22 

VI.     Two  views  of  female  skull,       ------  24 

VII.      Two  views  of  female  skull,             -            -            -            -            -  -      26 

VIII.     Three  views  of  female  skull,     -                        -            -            -            -  28 

IX.     Two  views  of  child's  skull,              -             -            -            -            -  28 

X.      Two  views  of  child's  skull,       ------  28 

XI.     Jaw  and  teeth  fastenings,                -            -            -            -            -  48 

Fig.  Page. 

1.  Manner  of  looping  cord  in  fastening  teeth,         -            -            -            -.  43 

2.  Original  and  secondary  fastening,     -            -            -            -            -  43 

3.  Jaw  fastening  of  palm-leaf  splints,           -----  44 

4.  Looping  of  jaw  fastening,      -            -            -            -            -            -  "44 

5.  Jaw  fastening  and  ornament,        ------  44 

6.  <  >rnamental  tie  of  palm  fiber,              -            -            -            -            -  44 

7.  Engraved  design  from  skull,        ------  45 

8.  Engraved  design  from  skull,              -            -            -            -            -  45 

9.  Engraved  design  from  skull,        ------  46 

10.  Engraved  design  from  skull,                          -                        -            -  -      46 

11.  Engraved  design  from  skull,        ------  46 

12.  Engraved  design  from  skull,             -           -           -           -            -  -      46 

13.  Engraved  design  from  skull,        -                        -                        -            -  47 

14.  Engraved  design  from  skull,               ...  ^7 

15.  Engraved  design  from  skull,        ------  47 

16.  Engraved  design  from  skull,              -            -            -            -            -  47 

17.  Engraved  design  from  skull,        -                                     -            -            -  47 

18.  Engraved  design  from  skull,              -            -            -            -            -  47 

19.  Engraved  design  from  skull,         -'.---            *            -  47 

20.  Engraved  design  from  skull,              -            -            -            -            -  -      48 

21.  Engraved  design  from  skull,         ------  48 

22.  Engraved  design  from  skull,              -            -            -            -            -  -      48 


OBSERVATIONS    ON    A    COLLECTION   OF  PAPUAN 
CRANIA,   By  GEORGE  A.  DORSEY. 


INTRODUCTION. 


While  considerable  numbers  of  crania  from  New  Guinea  have 
been  described,  and  while  the  type  of  the  Papuan  is  fairly  well  deter- 
mined, it  has  seemed  that  fhe  collection  which  furnishes  the  basis  of 
this  essay  combines  a  sufficient  number  of  characters  to  make  its 
description  of  interest  and  importance.  In  the  first  place  the  skulls 
come  from  a  single  locality,  having  been  received  from  a  native  chief 
who  used  them  for  the  adornment  of  his  house  and  prized  them,  it  is 
said,  as  trophies  of  war.  In  the  second  place  each  skull  has  been  deco- 
rated in  the  frontal  region  by  designs  in  incised  lines,  and  the  jaws  are 
bound  to  the  skull  by  bandages  which  pass  through  the  nares  around 
the  symphysis,  and  around  the  zygoma  through  a  hole  in  the  ramus 
just  beneath  the  sigmoid  notch. 

No  attempt  has  been  made  to  compare  the  results  obtained  in 
the  present  examination  with  those  of  previous  investigators.  This 
is  to  be  regretted,  but  the  available  literature  on  the  subject  is  not 
sufficient  to  make  the  undertaking  at  all  satisfactory.*  This  being 
the  case  only  the  facts  which  have  been  obtained  by  observation  have 
been  recorded.  In  the  first  part  there  is  a  somewhat  detailed  descrip- 
tion of  each  skull,  the  collection  being  divided  according  to  sex,  then 
follows  a  summary  in  which  the  two  sexes  are  contrasted  and  aver- 
ages for  the  entire  series  given,  together  with  a  table  of  measure- 
ments and  plates.  There  is  finally,  in  the  second  part,  a  description 
of  the  frontal  carvings  and  the  bandages  by  Prof.  W.  H.  Holmes,  to 
whom  I  am  much  indebted  for  consenting  to  undertake  this  work, 
and  to  whom  I  herewith  offer  my  sincerest  thanks. 

As  may  be  seen,  the  collection  comprises  sixteen  skulls,  distrib- 
uted as  follows:  males,  eight  ;  females,  seven  ;  child,  one.  Apart 
from  the  child's  skull  there  is  very  little  discrepancy  in  the  age  of  the 

*This  does  not  mean,  however,  that  I  have  made  no  use  of  the  standard  works  on  anthropol- 
ogy, and  I  wish  to  take  this  opportunity  to  express  my  sense  of  obligation  to  that  most  valuable 
monograph  on  skulls.  "  The  Report  on  Human  Crania,"  by  Sir  William  Turner,  in  the  Xth  volume 
of  the  Challenger  Report. 

7 


8  Introduction. 

crania.  The  average  may  be  put  at  about  thirty-five  to  forty  years, 
but  one  skull  having  the  basilar  synchondrosis  open,  and  none  of 
them  showing  any  signs  of  considerable  age. 

In  regard  to  the  measurements  taken,  only  those  have  been 
adopted  which  are  in  general  use  by  craniologists.  Concerning  the 
methods  employed  but  few  words  are  necessary.  The  cranial  capac- 
ity is  taken  with  No.  8  shot,  after  the  directions  of  Broca,  as 
described  in  detail  by  Topinard  in  his  "Elements  d' Anthropologic." 
It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that,  as  E.  Schmidt  has  pointed 
out,  although  the  method  of  Broca,  when  conscientiously  conducted, 
reduces  the  "personal"  element  to  a  minimum,  its  results  are  in 
excess  of  the  true  capacity  ;  and  Schmidt  has  tabulated  the  percent- 
age of  error,  so  that  it  is  possible  by  making  the  proper  deduction  to 
arrive  at  a  correct  result.  As  the  majority  of  observers,  however, 
have  given  their  results  as  originally  found  byBroca's  method,  I  have 
allowed  my  results  to  stand  without  alteration. 

The  weight  is  recorded  in  ounces,  and  is  merely  given  to  show 
sexual  and  individual  variation.  The  maximum  length  is  taken  from 
the  glabella.  For  the  facial  diameters  I  have  not  followed  the  most 
common  usage,  but  in  both  cases  have  started  from  nasion.  This, 
of  course,  does  not  give  the  true  diameter  of  the  length  of  the 
face;  but  it  does  limit  the  factor  of  possible  error  on  the  part 
of  the  observer.  The  dental  index  is  after  the  formula  of  Pro- 
fessor Flower.  Other  references  to  methods  and  measurements  will 
be  found  in  the  text,  especially  in  the  general  summary.  While  the 
fact  that  the  lower  jaw  is  held  in  place  by  bandages  is  of  great  inter- 
est to  the  ethnologist,  it  prevents  in  most  cases  any  careful  study  of 
the  condition  of  the  hard  palate,  or  of  the  variations  in  the  size  or 
cusps  of  the  teeth.  For  this  reason  no  attempt  has  been  made  to 
measure  the  hard  palate,  or  to  pursue  any  definite  detailed  series  of 
observations  of  the  lower  jaw.  It  may  also  be  noted  here  that  in 
almost  every  case  the  interior  nares  have  been  destroyed  by  the  band- 
ages ;  this  destruction  generally  included  the  lachrymals  and  the 
greater  portion  of  the  ethmoid  bone,  so  that  here  also  we  are  deprived 
of  studying  the  individual  variations  in  the  lachrymal,  one  of  the  most 
interesting,  although  the  smallest,  bone  in  the  face. 


LIBRARY 

or  -rwe 

•DIVERSITY  «f  ILLINOIS. 

I. 

CRANIOLOGICAL   OBSERVATIONS. 


A.     MALE  CRANIA. 


NO.  40,617. — Skull  of  adult  male,  large,  massive  and  heavy. 
Cranial  capacity,  1,515  cc.  The  upper  incisors  and  right  third 
molar  and  lower  right  second  premolar  have  been  lost;  their  alveoli 
are  still  open.  All  the  other  teeth  are  present,  in  sound,  healthy 
condition,  but  somewhat  worn.      (No.  2  of  Broca's  scale. ) 

Norma  Frontalis. — (See  PI.  I,  Fig.  1.)  Frontal  region  moder- 
ately well  developed;  not  prominent;  minimum  frontal  width,  103 
mm.  The  glabella  is  entirely  obscured  by  the  highly  projecting 
broad  superciliary  ridges.  The  orbits  are  quadrilateral  in  outline, 
with  a  decided  downward  inclination  to  their  axes.  The  inferior  and 
outer  orbital  margins  are  not  sharp  or  even  well-defined,  but  rounded 
so  that  it  is  difficult  to  locate  with  absolute  exactness  the  external 
inferior  angle  of  the  orbit,  or  even  of  the  neighboring  margins.  The 
nasal  bones  are  long  and  well  fashioned.  There  is  a  slight  concavity 
from  nasion  to  the  level  of  the  vascular  foramen,  where  the  nasals 
become  slightly  convex.  The  bridge  is  only  moderately  well  marked. 
The  nasal  opening  is  almost  sloping,  at  any  rate  it  is  rather  more 
than  rounded  ;  spine  very  insignificant.  The  canine  fossae  are  much 
fuller  than  is  usual  in  this  series.  The  malar  tuberosities  are  not 
prominent,  nor  are  the  zygomatic  arches  outstanding.  Alveolar  arch 
long  and  full. 

Norma  Verticalis.  (See  PI.  I,  Fig.  2.)  The  skull  is  extremely 
long  and  narrow,  measuring  191  x  131  mm.,  with  a  cephalic  index  of 
68.  The  parietal  eminences  are  fairly  prominent  and  outstanding. 
The  temporal  fossa>  are  exceptionally  broad  and  deep,  and  the  inferior 
temporal  line  approaches  within  40  mm.  of  the  sagittal  suture,  and 
follows  the  course  of  the  lambdoidal  for  nearly  half  its  length. 

Norma  Posterior.  (See  PI.  II,  Fig.  1.)  The  pentagon  is  well 
marked  ;  the  angle  at  the  vertex  is  sharp  and  distinct,  the  base  is 
horizontal,  with  nearly  straight  sides;  the  asterionic  diameter  is  100 
mm.,  being  exceeded  by  the  maximum  breadth  diameter  by  31   mm. 

<> 


io  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

On  each  parietal  bone,  beginning  about  half  way  down  the  sagittal 
suture,  begins  a  broad  groove  which  extends  downwards  and  ends  in 
the  lambdoidal  suture  just 'below  lambda.  Seen  in  profile  the  two 
grooves  are  very  plain,  with  the  sagittal  suture  at  a  median  elevation 
between  them. 

Norma  Lateralis. —  (See  PI.  II,  Fig.  2.)  The  curve  of  the  vault 
of  the  cranium  may  be  divided  into  five  regions:  from  ophryon  to 
metopion,  from  metopion  to  obelion  with  a  very  slight  depression 
just  posterior  to  bregma,  from  obelion  to  lambda,  from  lambda  to  inion, 
and  from  inion  to  opisthion.  The  frontal  development  is  fairly  good; 
the  vertex  is  somewhat  horizontal ;  there  is  a  sharp  break  in  the 
curve  at  obelion  and  the  occipital  point  is  half  way  between  lambda 
and  inion.  There  is  a  large  amount  of  alveolar  prognathism,  the 
teeth  also  have  a  strong  forward  projection.  The  malar  bone  is 
excluded  from  the  spheno-maxillary  fissure  by  the  articulation  of  the 
sphenoid  with  the  inferior  maxillary  bone.  The  temporal  border  of 
the  malar  bone  is  prominently  marked. 

Norma  Basalis. —  (See  PI.  Ill,  Fig.  1.)  The  foramen  magnum 
is  long  and  narrow,  measures  36  x  25  mm. ;  its  plane  is  directed  back- 
wards. The  condyles  are  far  forward,  slightly  oblique,  and  encroach 
somewhat  on  the  anterior  border  of  the  foramen  magnum.  The 
basilar  process  is  long  and  narrow,  with  deep,  well-defined  pharingeal 
and  navicular  fossae.  The  right  foramen  spinosum  has  its  posterior 
border  open  into  the  spheno-petrossal  fissure,  while  the  foramen 
ovale  is  a  mere  slit-like  opening.  The  posterior  condylar  foramina 
are  absent.  There  are  two  right  and  one  left  mastoid  foramina. 
Palate  is  long  and  narrow,  U-shaped,  and  is  18  mm.  deep  in  parts; 
there  is  a  gradual  slope  to  the  incisor  alveoli.  The  roof  of  the  palate 
is  rough  and  thrown  into  irregular  folds.  The  postglenoid  processes 
are  heavily  developed. 

Sutures. — The  coronal  is  exceedingly  simple,  the  lambdoidal  is 
slightly  complex,  and  the  sagittal  is  very  deeply  but  coarsely  serrated. 
The  coronal  suture  in  places  has  begun  to  synostose.  There  is  an 
epipteric  bone  at  right  pterion,  and  it  is  difficult  to  determine  if  it 
corresponds  to  the  upper  angle  of  the  alisphenoid  or  is  an  extra  bone  ; 
it  cannot  belong  to  the  temporal  or  parietal.  On  the  left  side  the 
temporal  is  10  mm.  from  the  frontal  bone.  The  malo-maxillary 
suture  is  synostosed  and  almost  obliterated. 

Processes. — The  mastoids  are  short,  thick  and  massive.  Sty- 
loid processes  small.  The  sphenoidal  spines  are  long  and  unusually 
thick.     The  external  pterygoid  plates  are  both  broken  ;   the  internal 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,  VOL.  II. 


Fig.  1. 


y^i 


• 


Fig.  2. 
Pl.  I.    Two  Views  of  Male  Skull,  No.  40,617. 


THE  UWWrt 
.UNIOWY  OF  UN* 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsey.  n 

plates  are  narrow  with  long  hamular  processes.  External  angular 
process  of  frontal,  broad  and  long. 

Muscular  Impressions. —  Prominently  indicated.  The  long  tem- 
poral line  has  already  been  noted  ;  on  its  frontal  aspect  is  a  well- 
developed  crest.  The  external  occipital  crest  is  not  individualized, 
but  is  included  in  the  torus  occipitalis  transrersus  which  extends  from 
asterion  to  asterion,  and  is  22  mm.  wide  and  8  mm.  high  through  the 
region  of  inion. 

Lower  Jaw. —  Massive  and  strongly  fashioned.  Through  the 
region  of  the  internal  oblique  line  the  body  measures  18  mm.  in  thick- 
ness. The  attachment  ridges  of  the  masseter  and  external  pterygoid 
muscles  are  heavy  and  rough.  The  ascending  ramus  is  34  mm.  in 
breadth  and  the  condyloid  height  is  70  mm.  The  coronoid  process 
is  broad,  but  not  sharp,  and  curves  backwards.  The  mental  pro- 
tuberance and  tubercles  are  not  prominent.  Height  of  symphysis,  33 
mm.;  mandibular  angle,  uo°. 

NO.  40,619. —  Skull  of  an  adult  male,  heavy  and  compact,  but 
small.  The  lachrymals  and  interior r^xqs  aje  destroyed.  Cranial 
capacity,  1,285  cc.  The  following  teeth;  a^e  in  situ:  upper  left  first 
and  second  molars,  and  righbjcauine  and  first  premolar  ;  lower  left 
second  molar  and  right  lateral  incisor  and '  SCfcond  va#d  third  molars. 
These  teeth  are  perfectly  sound  and  not  worn.  The  alveoli  of  the 
other  teeth  are  in  sound  condition,  except  those  of  the  right  first  and 
second  molars.  A  large  amount  of  absorption  has  taken  place  in 
this  region  and  simply  the  dwarfed  crests  of  the  alveoli  remain,  while 
the  maxillary  sinus  has  been  opened  in  three  different  places.  A 
large  amount  of  absorption  has  also  gone  on  in  the  labial  margin  of 
the  alveoli  of  both  right  and  left  lower  first  molars. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  Forehead  retreating  and  extremely  narrow  ; 
minimum  frontal  width,  87  mm.  Glabella  prominent,  with  supraorb- 
ital ridges.  Orbits  squarish,  with  decidedly  oblique  axes.  Nasals 
long  and  slender  with  slight  convexity  from  above  downwards,  and 
rather  sharply  arched.  Nasal  openings  rounded,  with  single  and  very 
diminutive  anterior  spine  and  well-developed  incisor  crest.  The 
incisor  fossae  are  slightly  sunken  ;  malar  tuberosities  prominent  ; 
zygomatic  arches  appressed.      Entire  face  appears  long  and  narrow. 

Norma  Verticalis. —  Ovoid;  frontal  development  slight,  with  no 
indication  of  frontal  eminences;  parietal  eminences  fairly  well  devel- 
oped, but  asymmetrical  in  position,  that  of  the  right  side  being  situ- 
ated about  15  mm.  forward  of  the  left.  The  skull  is  pronouncedly 
phamozygous,  the  fronto-zygomatic  index  being  75. 


12  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

Norma  Posterior. — Well  marked  pentagonal  form,  broad  through 
the  parietal  tubera,  sides  longer  than  the  base,  with  well  marked 
vertical  angle.  There  is  only  a  difference  of  19  mm.  between  the 
asterionic  diameter  and  the  maximum  cranial  diameter. 

Norma  Lateralis. — The  curve  is  gradual  from  ophryon  to  within 
about  25  mm.  of  obelion  ;  the  curve  is  more  rapid  then  till  just  below 
lambda,  which  is  the  most  posterior  point  of  the  skull  ;  the  portion 
from  inion  to  opisthion  is  almost  horizontal.  Deep  depression  at 
nasion  with  a  considerable  amount  of  alveolar  as  well  as  facial  prog- 
nathism. The  temporal  fossa  is  broad  and  long,  the  superior  line 
extending  within  45  mm.  of  the  sagittal  suture  just  behind  bregma, 
within  50  mm.  of  lambda,  and  within  45  mm.  of  inion.  The  direction 
of  the  left  temporo-parietal  suture  is  almost  straight,  except  for  a 
slight  curve  just  above  its  junction  with  the  supra-mastoid  crest,  the 
right  suture  is  even  more  nearly  a  straight  line.  Left  pterion  is 
formed  by  a  frontal  process  of  the  temporal  bone,  which  joins  the 
frontal  to  an  extent  of  7  mm.      Right  pterion  approaches  a  K. 

Norma  Inferior.  —  Foramen  magnum  almost  circular,  measures 
36x33  mm.  The  condyles  are  placed  far  forward  and  almost  meet  in 
the  median  line.  The  plane  of  the  foramen  magnum  is  directed  con- 
siderably forward,  so  much  so  that  the  occipital  angle  of  Brocais  22°. 
The  basilar  process  is  narrow  and  measures  21  mm.  in  length;  the 
pharingeal  tubercle  is  well  marked,  with  deep  navicular  fossa.  On 
the  left  side  the  foramen  ovale  is  almost  circular  in  outline,  and  the 
foramen  spinosum  is  situated  almost  at  the  tip  of  the  spinous  process, 
which  on  this  side  projects  backward  beyond  the  glasserian  fissure. 
The  more  normal  condition  prevails  on  the  right  side  ;  but  the  external 
pterygoid  plate  is  connected  with  the  spinous  process  by  a  bony 
spiculum  which  passes  over  the  foramen  ovale  and  just  to  the  inside 
of  the  foramen  lacerum.  The  glenoid  fossae  are  not  deep,  but  long 
and  narrow  from  side  to  side.  The  palate  has  a  decided  U-shape, 
and  is  comparatively  shallow. 

Sutures.  —  Coronal  extremely  simple;  sagittal  and  lambdoidal 
rather  complex.  The  coronal  suture  is  synostosed  and  obliterated 
below  stephanion  ;  the  sagittal  is  obliterated  in  its  anterior  two-fifths, 
and  throughout  its  inner  portion  is  firmly  synostosed,  the  lambdoidal 
is  partially  synostosed.  The  upper  half  of  the  nasal  suture  is  anky- 
losed. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  of  medium  size,  small  internal  pterygoids, 
but  external  pterygoids  broad,  with  deep  pterygoid  fossae.  The 
external  angular  process  of  the  frontal  bone  is  unusually  long  but  not 
so  massive  as  in  some  other  skulls  of  this  collection. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,   VOL     II 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 
Pl.  II.     Two  Views  of  Male  Skull,  No.  4,617. 


THE  USRWN 
Of  THE 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorskv.  13 

Muscular  Impressions. — The  temporal  line  is  well  marked  through- 
out its  course,  but  is  not  especially  rough.  The  external  occipital 
protuberance  broadens  out  in  a  heavy  transverse  mass,  forming  a 
well-defined  torus  occipitalis  transversus. 

Mandible.  —  Of  rather  delicate  and  feeble  dimensions.  The  con- 
dyles are  long  and  narrow  and  taper  to  a  sharp  point  on  their  inner 
termination.  The  sigmoid  notch  is  shallow  with  short  thin  coronoid 
processes.  The  ramus  is  narrow  and  62  mm.  in  height ;  the  muscular 
insertions  for  both  masseter  and  pterygoid  are  very  pronounced. 
The  body  is  thin  and  shallow  except  for  the  internal  oblique  line. 
The  mental  protuberance  is  not  prominent,  with  mental  tubercles  in 
a  corresponding  degree  of  development.  Mandibular  angle  115°, 
height  of  symphysis  30  mm. 

NO.  40,614. —  Skull  of  adult  male.  The  interior  nares  including 
lachrymals  have  been  destroyed.  Cranial  capacity,  1,415  cc.  Only 
the  following  teeth  are  in  situ:  the  lower  molars,  the  upper  left  first 
molar,  and  the  right  canine,  first  premolar  and  first  molar.  These 
teeth  are  in  perfect  condition  and  show  no  trace  of  wear.  The  alve- 
oli of  the  other  teeth  are  sound.  In  addition  to  the  foregoing  remarks 
about  the  teeth  it  is  to  be  specialty.  >nateil<  that  between  the  lower 
premolar  of  the  right  side,  a  third  pfemojar  has  made  its  appearance 
and  is  just  on  a  level  with  the  alveolus. ..  It  can  only  be  seen  from  its 
buccal  side. 

Norma  Frontalis. — The  forehead  is  fully  developed,  and  the 
frontal  eminencesare  more  prominent  than  the}-  generally  are  in  the 
male  series.  The  glabella  is  full  and  round,  with  superciliary  ridges 
less  prominent.  The  orbits  are  quadrilateral  in  form,  with  a  decided 
downward  inclination  of  the  external  part  of  the  orbital  arch.  The 
nasal  bones  are  medium  sized,  asymmetrical,  concave  from  above 
downward,  and  sharply  arched.  Nasal  openings  rounded  and  spine 
weak.  The  canine  fossae  are  deep  and  broad  :  tuberosity  of  the 
malars  prominent  with  projecting  zygomatic  arches. 

Norma  Verticalis. —  Slightly  oval  with  pronounced  parietal  emi- 
nences, a  squarish  frontal  termination  and  a  highly  projecting  occiput. 
Bizygostephanic  index  49. 

Norma  Posterior. — The  pentagon  is  not  as  well  marked  as  usual, 
for  the  base  is  broad  and  straight ;  the  sides  are  almost  equally 
straight,  and  the  angle  at  the  vertex  is  more  open  than  usual.  The 
asterionic  diameter  is  116  mm.  as  compared  with  133  mm.  for  the 
maximum  breadth. 

Norma  Lateralis. — Well  marked  frontal  curvature,  with  a  decid- 


14  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

edly  prominent  occipital  tubercle.  At  inion  the  curve  changes  rap- 
idly in  a  forward  direction,  flattened  somewhat  over  vertex.  Zygo- 
matic arches  slender  and  delicate.  Pronounced  alveolar  prog- 
nathism. 

Norma  Inferior. —  Foramen  magnum  elliptical,  measures  34  x  28 
mm.  The  posterior  borders  of  the  condyles  are  much  depressed — 
platybasic  deformity.  On  the  right  side  the  foramen  spinosum  opens 
into  a  backward  slit-like  prolongation  of  the  foramen  lacerum.  The 
apex  of  the  left  petrosal  bone  is  defective  and  does  not  cover,  except 
by  a  bony  spiculum,  any  portion  of  the  carotid  canal.  The  glenoid 
fossa  is  deep  and  slightly  circular,  and  on  the  left  side  the  condyle  is 
almost  at  right  angles  to  the  glasserian  fissure.  On  both  sides  there- 
is  a  well-defined  postglenoid  process.  The  hard  palate  is  hyper- 
bolic in  form,  almost  U-shaped,  and  is  but  14  mm.  in  its  deepest 
part,  and  slopes  gradually  to  the  incisor  alveoli. 

Sutures. — The  coronal  is  exceedingly  simple,  the  sagittal  is  some- 
what complex  and  the  lambdoidal  for  the  greater  part  is  from  10  to  20 
mm.  in  breadth  and  is  extremely  complicated  throughout  its  length  by 
wormian  bones.  These  begin  at  lambda  as  large  simple  bones,  but 
toward  asterion  on  both  sides  they  become  long  and  narrow,  or 
replaced  by  numerous  ossicles.  At  left  asterion  there  are  two  large 
and  two  small  individual  wormian  bones.  Synostosis  has  begun  in  all 
the  sutures  in  the  region  of  pterion. 

Processes.— The  mastoids  are  moderately  sized.  The  left  is  rather 
more  rounded  than  the  right,  which  is  slightly  compressed  from  side 
to  side.  The  digastric  and  occipital  grooves  are  very  shallow.  The 
external  pterygoid  plate  is  much  below  the  average  in  size,  while  the 
internal  plate  is  reduced  to  a  mere  crest-like  spinous  process.  The 
suture  of  the  internal  pterygoid  is  still  open  on  its  anterior  and  pos- 
terior aspects. 

Muscular  Impressions. —  As  a  rule  faint,  inion  is  simply  a  rough- 
ened portion  of  the  occipital  protuberance.  The  occipital  lines  are 
not  ridges  in  any  sense  of  the  term,  but  rather  swellings.  The  tem- 
poral lines  can  be  distinguished  throughout  their  length  but  are  not 
at  all  prominent. 

Mandible. —  Small  and  weakly  formed.  The  condyles  are  short 
and  broad  to  correspond  to  the  form  of  the  glenoid  fossse.  There  is 
a  slight  mental  protuberance  and  but  little  trace  of  the  tubercles. 
The  sigmoid  notch  is  broad  and  but  slightly  concave.  The  coronoid 
process  is  almost  pyramidal  in  shape  owing  to  its  thickness.  The 
mental    foramina    are   immediately   beneath    the    second    premolars. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    VOL.    II. 


Fig.  1.    (40,617.) 


Fig.  2.     (40,607.) 


Pl.   III.     Views  of  Male  and  Female  Skulls,  Nos.  40,617  and  40,607. 


OF  THt 


Aug.  1897.      Observations  on    Papi  an   Crania — Dorsev.  15 

Genio-glossal  spine  double;  genio-hyoid  crest  very  small.  The  stylo- 
hyoid ridge  is  heavily  marked,  especially  that  portion  just  under  tin- 
first  molars.      Height  of  symphysis  31  mm.;  mandibular  angle  130°. 

NO.  40,595. —  Skull  of  an  adult  male.  Teeth  all  present  in  per- 
fect condition,  with  no  sign  of  wear.     Cranial  capacity,  1,390  cc. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  (See  PI.  IV,  Fig.  1.)  Glabella  and  super- 
ciliary ridges  prominent.  Orbits  slightly  rounded,  with  a  very  slight 
inclination  of  the  axes.  Interorbital  space  medium.  There  is  pres- 
ent on  both  ridges  the  infra-orbital  suture.  The  nasal  bones  are  small, 
well-shaped  and  form  a  projecting  bridge;  the  nasal  openings  are 
fairly  sloping  with  but  little  nasal  spine.  The  canine  fossae  are  deep, 
almost  cavernous.  Malars  and  zygomatic  arches  projecting,  but  total 
face  is  long  and  narrow,  especially  in  the  region  of  the  jaws. 

Norma  Verticalis. — The  skull  is  long  and  narrow  and  of  regular 
outline,  owing  to  the  slight  development  of  both  frontal  and  parietal 
eminences.      Cephalic  index,  65.      Bizygostephanic  index,  87. 

Norma  Posterior. —  Pantagonal  form  with  broad  bas,e  and  sides 
and  rather  angular  at  vertex. 

Norma  Lateralis. —  (See  PI.  IV,  Fig.  2.)  Well-mafked  frontal 
development:  the  curve  of  the  vertex  is  graduar  to  obelion,  where  it 
passes  rapidly  down  to  inion,  there  it  becomes  almost  a  straight 
line  to  opisthion.  The  frontal  external  angular  process  is  thick  and 
heavy.  The  glabella  overhangs  nasion  to  a  considerable  extent; 
alveolar  prognathism  marked. 

Norma  Inferior. — The  foramen  magnum  is  nearly  circular,  31  x  28 
mm.,  except  on  leftside,  where  the  posterior  condyloid  foramen  is 
continuous  with  the  foramen  magnum.  On  the  right  side  the  jugular 
process  has  grown  over  and  covers  the  petro-occipital  synchon- 
drosis. 

Sutures. — The  coronal  and  lambdoidal  are  very  simple;  the 
sagittal  is  slightly  more  complex.  There  is  a  long,  narrow  wormian 
bone,  25x4  mm.,  at  right  pterion;  also  a  small  wormian  bone  just 
above  right  asterion. 

There  can  still  be  made  out  a  cleft,  11  mm.  in  length,  starting 
just  above  left  asterion  and  extending  in  the  direction  of  inion;  a 
somewhat  similar  cleft,  but  not  so  distinct,  exists  also  on  the  right 
side. 

Processes.  The  mastoids  are  very  rough  and  of  large  size, 
although  not  long.  The  styloid  processes  are  large  and  thick,  and 
are  protected  by  the  vaginal  sheath  for  a  distance  of  about  15  mm. 


16  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

Muscular  Impressions. — Well  marked  throughout,  especially  in 
the  occipital  region  where  the  curved  lines  and  protuberances  are 
extremely  rough.  The  insertions  for  both  the  masseter  and  internal 
pterygoid  muscles  are  strongly  indicated. 

Mandible. —  Strongly  developed;  height  of  symphysis,  31  mm.; 
mandibular  angle,  1200.  Very  slight  mental  protuberances  and  no 
indication  of  mental  tuberosities. 

NO.  40,620. —  Skull  of  an  adult  male  of  unusual  size  and  weight. 
Cranial  capacity,  1,560  cc.  The  lachrymals  and  interior  nares  are 
destroyed.  The  following  teeth  are  in  situ:  upper  canines  and  right 
premolars  and  left  second  premolar;  lower  second  and  third  right 
molars  and  first  and  second  left  molars.  These  teeth  are  sound  and 
very  slightly  worn.  The  upper  third  molars  have  never  erupted.  The 
alveoli  of  the  other  teeth  are  all  sound,  with  but  one  exception.  The 
exception  is  in  the  case  of  the  lower  right  first  molar  and  second  pre- 
molar. There  is  a  deep  circular  excavation  here  and  the  jaw  has 
been  fractured  between  these  two  teeth.  The  line  of  the  fracture  can 
still  be  plainly  seen  both  on  the  labial  and  buccal  side  of  the  jaw, 
which  has  in  its  outer  aspect  a  globular  appearance. 

Norma  Frontalis. — The  face  is  broader  and  much  fuller  in  the 
frontal  region  than  usual.  This  is  due  both  to  the  comparatively  full 
development  of  the  frontal  tubera  and  to  the  absolute  width  of  the 
frontal  bone,  the  minimum  diameter  of  which  is  103  mm.  The  glabella 
is  not  prominent,  yielding  as  a  median  depression  between  the  sharp 
supraorbital  crests.  The  orbits  are  long  and  narrow,  with  axes 
inclined  to  a  considerable  degree.  The  nasal  bones  are  well  formed, 
with  prominent,  acute  bridge.  The  openings  are  round,  with  diminu- 
tive nasal  spine.  Canine  fossae  somewhat  depressed;  long  alveolar 
process,  but  not  highly  prognathic. 

Norma  Verticalis. — While  the  length  is  about  normal  for  these 
skulls,  187  mm.,  the  maximum  breadth  is  much  above  the  average, 
being  140  mm.  The  parietal  eminences  are  well  indicated  but  not 
sharply  rounded.  The  bizygostephanic  index  is  82 — the  highest  of 
the  series. 

Norma  Posterior. — The  pentagonal  form  almost  disappears  in  the 
very  open  angle  of  the  vertex,  the  cranium  being  broader  than  it  is 
high,  and  the  maximum  diameter  exceeding  that  of  the  asterionic  by 
only  34  mm. 

Norma  Lateralis.- — The  frontal  development  is  very  striking  and 
ends  anteriorly  to  bregma.  From  that  point  to  half  the  distance  of 
the  sagittal  suture  the  curve  disappears  entirely.      The  posterior  two- 


FIELD    COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,  VOL.  II. 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 
Pl.  IV.     Two  Views  of  Male  Skull,  No.  40,595. 


THE  UBRNM 

OF  WE 

UNNOBin  OF  BP» 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsey.  17 

thirds  of  the  sagittal  curve  is  rapidly  downwards  to  near  lambda,  just 
above  which  is  a  depression.  There  is  a  bulging  of  the  occipital 
squama  between  lambda  and  inion;  below  inion  the  curve  is  rapidly 
forward,  forming  an  almost  horizontal  plane.  The  superior  curved 
line  projects  about  5  mm.  in  profile. 

Norma  Inferior. — The  foramen  magnum  is  diamond  shaped,  with- 
diameters  of  34  and  32  mm.,  and  looks  directly  downward.  The 
right  jugular  fossa  is  unusually  large.  The  palate  is  shallow  and 
U-shaped. 

Sutures. — The  sutures  are  all  simple,  especially  the  coronal; 
this  suture  is  almost  obliterated  below  stephanion.  The  sagittal 
and  lambdoidal  are  partially  synostosed.  There  is  a  very  large 
wormian  bone  in  both  left  and  right  lambdoidal  sutures  near  lambda, 
one  at  left  asterion  and  two  at  right  asterion.  The  spheno-parietal 
suture  on  the  left  side  is  17  mm.  in  length;  on  the  right  side  it  is 
14  mm. 

Processes. — Mastoids  small;  the  external  occipital  protuberance 
is  expanded  laterally  into  a  torus  occipitalis  transversus  of  the  most 
pronounced  type. 

Muscular  Impressions. —  Not  heavy; ^as  a  rule  the  surfaces  are 
smooth.  There  is,  howeveif,.'jaryery  broad  indented  surface  for  the 
origin  of  the  masseter. 

Mandible. —  Of  weak  development  and  of  large  dimensions  to 
correspond  to  the  large  inferior  expansion  of  the  face,  but  the  body 
and  ramus  are  small.  The  mental  protuberance  and  tuberosities  are 
small.      Height  of  ramus  31  mm. 

NO.  40,618. —  Skull  of  adult  male.  Cranial  capacity,  1,415  cc. 
The  left  incisors  and  canine  teeth  have  been  lost;  their  alveoli  are  in 
perfect  condition.  The  third  molars  have  never  erupted  either  above 
or  below,  otherwise  the  teeth  are  perfectly  sound  and  show  no  trace 
of  wear.      Lachrymals  and  interior  nares  destroyed. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  Long  narrow  face  with  retreating  forehead 
and  slight  development  of  the  frontal  eminences.  Glabella  rounded 
with  faint  supraorbital  ridges;  orbits  squarish;  narrow,  long  nasal 
bones,  with  only  slight  convexity  but  sharp  nasal  bridge;  spine  small, 
incisor  crest  prominent  and  openings  of  anterior  nares  rounded. 
There  is  present  on  both  sides  the  infraorbital  suture.  Canine  fossa 
elongated,  but  not  deep;   alveolar  process  short  and  prognathic. 

Norma  Verticalis. — Ovoid,  prominent  parietal  eminences,  with 
minimum  frontal  diameter  of  93  mm.,  and  bizygostephanic  index 
of  69. 


18  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

Norma  Posterior. — Well  marked  pentagonal  form.  The  differ- 
ence between  the  asterionic  diameter  and  the  maximum  breadth  is 
25  mm. 

Norma  Lateralis. — The  frontal  curve  is  regular  but  rapidly  re- 
treating to  bregma,  where  there  is  a  short  horizontal  plane  just  pos- 
terior to  bregma.  At  obelion  the  curve  passes  rapidly  downward  to 
a  short  distance  below  lambda,  which  is  the  occipital  point;  there  is 
only  a  very  slight  break  in  the  region  at  inion.  The  zygomatic  arches 
are  unusually  heavy  and  short.  The  alveolar  prognathism  is  pro- 
nounced. 

Norma  Inferior. —  Foramen  magnum  large  and  elliptical  in  form, 
measures  37  x  30  mm.  The  occipital  condyles  are  long  and  narrow. 
There  is  a  well  denned  protuberance  for  the  jugular  process.  The 
left  foramen  spinosum  is  unusually  large  and  is  bounded  posteriorly 
by  the  petrous  bone. 

Sutures. — The  coronal  is  exceedingly  simple;  the  sagittal  and 
lambdoidal  are  coarsely  denticulated.  There  are  two  small  wormian 
bones  in  both  right  and  left  coronal,  two  in  right  and  left  lambdoidal, 
one  at  left  asterion,  two  at  left  pterion  and  a  long  narrow  bone  at  right 
pterion,  measuring  29x9  mm. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  small;  external  occipital  protuberance 
fairly  indicated.  Internal  pterygoid  plates  almost  nil.  External  plates 
narrow  above  but  broad  below;  there  is  no  hamular  process. 

Muscular  Impressions. —  Not  so  well  marked  as  usual,  although 
the  temporal  lines  are  broad  and  plainly  indicated  throughout  their 
entire  course. 

Mandible. —  Of  small  size,  condyles  narrow  and  not  long,  condy- 
loid process  long  and  slender  with  rather  shallow  sigmoid  notch. 
Mental  eminence  weak,  but  fairly  well  developed  mental  tubercles. 
Height  of  ramus  64  mm.,  height  of  symphysis  34  mm.,  mandibular 
angle  1300. 

NO.40,613. — The  skull  of  an  adult  male  of  large  size  and  of  great 
weight.  Cranial  capacity,  1,545  cc-  Tne  upper  and  lower  molars, 
except  the  upper  right  third  molar  and  the  upper  left  outer  incisor, 
are  in  situ;  the  alveoli  of  the  other  teeth  are  present.  The  floor  of 
the  orbital  cavity,  together  with  the  turbinals  and  vomer,  have  been 
destroyed. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  Forehead  retreats  beyond  the  large  glabella 
and  projecting  superciliary  ridges.  The  minimum  frontal  width  is 
100  mm.  The  orbits  are  quadrilateral  and  deep  set,  with  compara- 
tively narrow  infraorbital  space.      The  nasal  bones  are   long,  broad 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsxy.  19 

and  highly  arched;  the  anterior  nasal  opening  is  continuous  with  the 
alveolar  margin,  and  there  is  scarcely  any  size  to  the  nasal  spine. 
The  canine  fossa  is  filled  out  rather  than  sunken  in,  as  in  the  ma- 
jority of  these  skulls. 

Norma  Verticalis. —  Long  and  narrow,  widest  throughout  the 
parietal  eminences.  The  frontal  eminences  are  not  largely  developed. 
The  anterior  external  angle  of  the  frontal  bone  is  very  heavy,  and 
projects  to  an  unusual  degree,  ph;enozygous. 

Norma  Posterior. —  Pentagonal  in  form  with  rounded  angles  and 
converging  sides. 

Norma  Lateralis. — The  deep  depression  at  nasion  is  striking, 
owing  to  the  prominent  development  of  the  glabella.  The  curve 
from  ophryon  to  obelion  is  very  gradual,  with  a  flattening  at  the 
region  of  bregma.  The  alveolar  arch  is  short,  and  the  prognathism 
is  not  as  marked  as  it  is  in  some  of  the  other  crania.  Right  pterion 
is  in  K. 

Norma  Inferior. —  Foramen  magnum  of  elliptical  form,  measures 
39x31  mm.,  with  the  plane  directed  slightly  backwards.  Basilar 
process  narrow  and  short. 

Sutures. —  Coronal  practically  a  straight  line;  the  sagittal  and 
lambdoidal  are  coarsely  serrated.  There  is  a  large  irregularly  sized 
wormian  bone  just  to  the  left  of  lambda,  and  another  in  the  left  lamb- 
doidal just  above  asterion. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  massive  and  rough,  but  not  long.  Inner 
and  outer  pterygoid  plates  small  with  very  slight  pterygoid  notch. 
The  mandibular  condyles  are  very  broad,  measuring  32  mm. 

Muscular  Impressions. —  Of  slight  development  for  a  male  skull 
of  such  large  size.  The  external  occipital  protuberance  is  fairly  well 
indicated,  but  the  occipital  lines  are  scarcely  distinguishable. 

NO.  40,609. —  Cranium  of  adult  male,  of  small  cranial  capacity — 
1,275  cc->  Dut  massive,  and  of  considerable  weight — 1  pound  13 
ounces.  The  lachrymal  of  the  right  side  and  the  entire  inner  side  of 
the  left  orbital  cavity,  together  with  the  turbinals  and  vomer,  have 
been  destroyed.  Both  right  and  left  third  molars  have  disappeared, 
and  their  alveoli  are  completely  destroyed.  All  the  other  teeth, 
except  the  upper  and  lower  incisors,  are  in  situ,  and  show  very  little 
evidence  of  wear.      The  incisor  alveoli  are  all  in  perfect  condition. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  Glabella  of  enormous  size,  superciliary  ridges 
strongly  marked;  orbits  quadrilateral  in  form;  nasal  bones  of  large 
size  and  heavily  arched,  nasal  openings  fossa-like,  with   diminutive 


20  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

spine.  The  canine  fossae  are  slightly  depressed.  Malar  tuberosities 
prominent,  and  zygomatic  arches  outstanding. 

Norma  Verticalis. — Oval  in  outline,  with  prominent  parietal  tubera 
but  very  slight  frontal  development.  The  temporal  fossae  are  broad 
and  deep,  the  superior  temporal  line  passing  within  45  mm.  of  the 
sagittal  suture,  just  behind  bregma.  The  bizygostephanic  index 
is  78.      • 

Norma  Posterior. — Of  well  marked  pentagonal  form,  with  straight 
sides  and  broad  base;  the  asterionic  diameter  is  116  mm.,  as  com- 
pared with  131  mm.  for  the  maximum  cranial  breadth. 

Norma  Lateralis. — The  depression  at  nasion  is  very  striking, 
owing  to  the  excessive  development  of  the  glabella.  The  forehead 
retreats  very  rapidly  behind  ophryon  and  the  apex  of  the  curve  is 
reached  about  40  mm.  posterior  to  bregma.  The  occipital  squama  is 
almost  vertical. 

Norma  Inferior. —  Foramen  magnum  slightly  rounded,  measures 
33  x  29  mm.;  basilar  process  short  and  narrow. 

Sutures. —  Coronal  exceedingly  simple;  sagittal  and  lambdoidal 
coarsely  serrated.  Synostosis  has  partially  taken  place  in  the  coronal 
below  pterion  and  in  the  posterior  third  of  the  sagittal.  There  is  a 
small  wormian  bone  in  the  lower  left  lambdoidal  and  one  in  the  lower 
temporo-parietal  suture  near  asterion. 

Processes. — The  mastoids  are  exceptionally  massive  and  rough; 
the  external  occipital  protuberance  is  very  large  and  is  expanded 
laterally  into  a  torus  occipitalis  transversus. 

The  external  pterygoid  plate  has  a  broad  lateral  expansion,  with 
long  sphenoidal  spines.  Especially  massive  and  prominent  is  the 
frontal  external  angular  process. 

Muscular  Impressions. — The  temporal  lines  are  prominent  and 
broad,  with  strong  ridges  on  the  mandibular  angle. 

Lower  Jaw. —  Strong  and  clean  cut.  Mandibular  angle  1120. 
Symphysial  height,  35  mm. 


B.     FEMALE  CRANIA. 


NO.  40,607.— Skull  of  adult  female.  The  right  and  left  lach- 
rymal and  the  left  6s  planum  of  the  ethmoid  bone,  together  with  the 
turbinals  and  vomer,  have  been  destroyed.  Cranial  capacity  1,275  cc. 
The  teeth  present  are  well   formed,  in  perfect  condition  and  but  very 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsev.  21 

slightly  worn.  The  upper  right  third  molar  and  both  lower  third 
molars  are  suppressed. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  (See 'PI.  V,  Fig.  1.)  The  forehead  is  small  but 
rounded  and  fairly  prominent,  and  in  proportion  to  the  face  seems 
unusually  large.  This  is  owing  to  the  extreme  narrowness  and  short- 
ness of  the  face  as  shown  by  the  bizygomatic  diameter  of  109  mm., 
and  the  nasomental  length  of  only  96  mm.  The  orbits  are  of  large 
size,  somewhat  elongated  and  measure  40  x  34  mm.  There  is  a  very 
marked  inclination  to  the  orbital  axes.  The  nasal  bones  are  sym- 
metrical and  well  shaped;  the  bridge  is  only  moderately  acute,  there 
bi  ing  a  tendency  at  the  lower  aspect  to  flatness.  Nasal  openings 
rounded,  with  small  spine  and  incisor  crest.  The  canine  fossae  are 
broad  and  sunken.  Alveolar  arch  short  and  compressed,  the  outline 
of  each  alveolar  cavity  being  plainly  indicated.  There  is  a  small 
foramen  on  both  sides  passing  into  the  diploe,  just  beneath  the 
supraorbital  notch. 

Norma  Verticalis. —  (See  PI.  V,  Fig.  2.)  Long  and  narrow.  The 
cephalic  index  is  65.  Parietal  eminences  well  marked,  but  not  pro- 
jecting. There  is  a  slight  depression  on  each  side  just  anterior  to  the 
eminences.      The  frontal  region  is  broader  than  the  occipital. 

Norma  Posterior. —  (See  PI.  VI,  Fig.  1.)  Well  marked  pentag- 
onal form,  with  prominent  vertex,  long  almost  straight  sides  and 
slightly  downward  curving  base.  The  maximum  diameter  exceeds 
the  asterionic  diameter  by  only  15  mm. 

Norma  Lateralis. — (See  PI.  VI,  Fig.  2.)  On  the  frontal  bone  the 
anterior  portion  of  the  curve  is  well  formed,  but  less  than  half  way  up 
the  line  becomes  nearly  horizontal  until  near  obelion.  There  is  a 
slight  depression  just  anterior  to  bregma,  which  is  the  highest 
point  of  the  vertex.  From  obelion  the  curve  takes  a  rapid  downward 
course  to  a  point  about  15  mm.  above  inion.  From  inion  to  opisthion 
the  line  is  nearly  horizontal.  There  is  a  slight  depression  at  nasion, 
and  considerable  facial  prognathism,  with  an  unusual  amount  of 
alwolar  prognathism.  The  temporal  suture  is  not  highly  curved. 
Left  pterion  in  K.  Right  temporal  is  removed  from  the  frontal  bone 
by  6  mm. 

Norma  Inferior. —  (See  PI.  Ill,  Fig.  2.)  Foramen  magnum  is 
slightly  rounded  and  is  rather  larger  than  one  would  expect  in  a  skull 
of  this  capacity;  measures  33  x  30  mm.  Just  anterior  to  basion  and  in 
a  median  line  is  a  well  formed  third  condyle.  It  is  about  6  mm.  in 
height  and  7  mm.  in  breadth.  The  condyle  of  the  left  side  is  4  mm. 
farther  forward  than  that  of   the  right  side.     The  palate  is  long  and 


22  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

narrow,  in  outline  U-shaped.     The  digastric  and  occipital  grooves  are 
in  common;  the  mastoid  foramina  are  absent. 

Sutures. — The  coronal  suture  is  exceedingly  simple  except  just 
above  stephanion  for  a  short  distance,  where  it  is  slightly  denticu- 
lated. The  sagittal  and  lambdoidal  sutures  are  moderately  complex. 
There  are  two  small  wormian  bones  in  the  lower  right  lambdoidal, 
one  in  the  right  masto-occipital  just  below  asterion,  and  one  in  the 
temporo-parietal  just  above  asterion,  and  one  in  the  left  masto-occip- 
ital just  below  asterion. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  are  small  nipple-like  projections;  styloids 
small.  The  sphenoidal  spines  are  long;  one  on  the  left  side  extends 
back  over  the  petrous  bone,  on  the  right  it  forms  a  crest  for  some 
length  and  projects  inwards  over  the  foramen  spinosum.  The  inter- 
nal pterygoid  plates  are  short  and  small,  the  external  pterygoids 
approach  to  within  5  mm.  of  the  internal  ramus  of  the  lower  jaw. 

Muscular  Impressions. — The  surface  of  the  skull  is  generally 
smooth.  The  temporal  lines,  however,  can  be  made  out  in  their 
entire  course.  The  inner  and  outer  surfaces  of  the  mandibular  angle 
are  rough. 

Mandible. —  Strong,  compact,  but  small.  There  is  practically  no 
mental  protuberance  nor  any  indication  of  mental  tuberosities.  The 
mental  foramina  have  their  opening  directed  backwards.  Internal 
oblique  line  prominent.  The  angles  of  the  mandible  converge  in  a 
remarkable  manner  and  are  only  61  mm.  apart,  as  compared  with  a 
distance  of  70  mm.  from  the  inner  surface  of  one  condyle  to  the  other. 
Height  of  ramus,  57  mm.;  height  of  symphysis,  27  mm.;  mandibular 
angle,  1280. 

NO.  40,6 1 2.—  Skull  of  adult  female.  Both  zygoma  have  been 
broken,  and  the  lachrymals,  ethmoids,  turbinals  and  vomer  were 
destroyed  in  the  bandaging  of  the  jaws.  The  cranium  is  rather  heavy 
and  has  a  capacity  of  1,345  cc.  The  teeth  are  all  in  situ,  in  perfect 
condition  and  slightly  worn;  except  the  upper  and  lower  right  inner 
incisors,  the  alveoli  of  which  contain  plugs  of  wood. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  (See  PI.  VII,  Fig.  1.)  The  frontal  tubera  are 
well  developed,  very  slight  glabella  and  but  little  indication  of  super- 
ciliary ridges.  The  orbits  are  circular  and  very  slightly  higher  than 
wide,  index  102.      Deep  canine  fossae.      Face  long  and  narrow. 

Norma  Verticalis. —  Oval,  the  parietal  as  well  as  the  frontal  tubera 
being  strongly  marked. 

Norma  Posterior. — The  pentagon  is  not  as  well  marked  as  usual, 
for  the  superior  angle  is  extremely  open  and  the  base  is  not  depressed 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  of  ILLINOIS. 


FIELD  COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    VOL.    II. 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 
Pl.  V.    Two  Views  of  Female  Skull,  No.  40,607. 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsey.  23 

between  the  mastoids,  but  projects  downwards.  There  is  only  30 
mm.  difference  between  the  maximum  diameter  and  the  asterionic 
diameter. 

Norma  Lateralis. —  (See  PI.  VII,  Fig.  2.)  Forehead  prominent 
and  vertex  somewhat  flattened,  as  is  also  the  region  just  above  lambda; 
below  lambda  the  curve  passes  forward  more  gradually  than  usual. 
The  fronto-nasal  depression  is  very  slight.  Alveolar  prognathism 
very  pronounced.  Both  right  and  left  pterion  are  formed  by  a  broad 
frontal  process  of  the  temporal  bone  joining  the  frontal  to  the  extent 
of  10  mm. 

Norma  Inferior. — Foramen  magnum  is  nearly  circular,  34  x30  mm. 
The  condyles  are  far  forward  and  have  a  deep  backward  inclination. 
The  right  jugular  process  extends  downwards  in  a  rounded  nipple- 
like projection  for  about  6  mm. 

Sutures. —  Coronal  exceedingly  simple,  sagittal  and  lambdoidal 
rather  complex.  Synostosis  has  set  in  about  pterion  and  throughout 
the  sagittal  suture.  There  is  a  medium  size  wormian  bone  to  the 
right  of  lambda. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  very  small,  and  very  narrow  pterygoids. 

Muscular  Impressions.— Faint,  except  the  inner  and  outer  borders 
of  the  angle  of  the  mandible.      Occipital  lines  scarcely  visible. 

Lower  Jaw. —  Rather  small  but  firmly  fashioned.  Long  coronoid 
process  and  broad  sigmoid  notch.  Ramus  broad.  Mandibular  angle 
115°. 

NO.  40,6 1  I . —  Skull  of  an  adult  female,  of  small  size  but  thick  and 
heavy;  capacity  1,060  cc.  The  teeth  are  all  present,  in  perfect  con- 
dition and  but  little  worn;  except  the  upper  incisors  and  left  canine, 
and  the  lower  left  lateral  incisor,  canine  and  first  premolar  which 
have  been  lost  ;  their  alveoli  are  open.  In  addition  to  the  normal 
number  of  teeth,  a  lower  left  third  premolar  has  partially  erupted 
between  the  second  premolar  and  the  first  premolar.  No  trace  of  it 
can  be  seen  on  the  labial  surface  and  it  is  likely  that  when  completely 
erupted  it  would  have  been  forced  in  between  the  buccal  surfaces  of  the 
above  mentioned  teeth.  Only  the  crown  of  the  tooth  can  be  seen;  it  is 
of  normal  size.  The  ethmoids  and  vomer  have  been  destroyed.  The 
right  zygoma  is  broken. 

Norma  Frontalis. — The  orbits  are  squarish,  with  nearly  perfectly 
straight  axes.  The  infraorbital  space  is  disproportionately  broad. 
The  nasals  are  large  and  flattened,  nasal  openings  are  rounded  and 
the  nasal  spine  is  insignificant.       The  canine  fossae  are  well  marked 


24  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

but  not  deep.  The  minimum  breadth  of  the  forehead  is  91  mm.  The 
nasal  index  is  60,  which  is  excessively  high  even  for  a  Papuan.  The 
forehead  rises  from  the  face  to  a  considerable  height,  and  the  frontal 
curve  is  more  gradual  than  it  is  among  the  other  female  skulls  of  this 
group. 

Norma  Verticalis. — The  frontal  eminences  are  fairly  well  devel- 
oped and  compensate  in  a  manner  those  of  the  parietal,  thus  giving 
the  skull  an  elliptical  outline.  A  slight  contraction  is  noticeable  at 
the  sides,  along  the  coronal  suture.  The  posterior  half  of  the  skull 
presents  a  perfectly  symmetrical  curve.      Bizygostephanic  index  81. 

Norma  Posterior. —  Pentagonal,  with  rather  sharp  vertex  and 
converging  sides;  the  maximum  breadth  exceeds  the  asterionic  diameter 
by  32  mm.  The  backward  position  of  the  parietal  eminences  is  very 
striking. 

Norma  Lateralis. — There  is  a  well  marked  frontal  curve  due  to 
the  frontal  eminences,  the  curve  is  then  very  gradual  to  obelion, 
where  it  rapidly  passes  downward  to  inion,  when  it  changes  abruptly 
forward.  There  is  a  slight  elevation  at  glabella  but  no  perceptible 
superciliary  ridge.  The  naso-frontal  depression  is  slight;  prognathism 
is  confined  to  the  jaws  The  curve  of  the  temporo-parietal  suture 
from  pterion  to  the  termination  of  the  supra-mastoid  crest  is  exceed- 
ingly slight. 

Norma  Inferior. —  Foramen  magnum  is  elliptical  in  shape  and 
measures  30x25  mm.  There  is  a  double  interest  in  the  hard  palate: 
first  the  median  portions  of  the  palatine  plates  have  encroached  upon 
the  maxillary  bones,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  transverse  palatine 
suture,  instead  of  being  straight  as  is  usual,  is  irregularly  oblique  on 
each  side;  second,  there  is  a  broad,  well  defined  torus  palatiuus 
extending  from  the  anterior  palatine  foramen  to  the  maxillo-palatine 
suture.  Just  anterior  and  internal  to  each  foramen  ovale  is  the 
anomalous  foramen  of  Vesalius.  The  jugular  processes  are  more  than 
usually  well  developed. 

Sutures. — The  coronal  is  exceedingly  simple  throughout  its  entire 
length.  The  sagittal  and  lambdoidal  are  rather  complex.  Synostosis 
has  taken  place  in  all  the  sutures  in  the  region  of  pterion.  There  are 
no  wormian  bones. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  small;  external  occipital  protuberance  very 
slightly  projecting. 

Muscular  Impressions. —  Faintly  marked  except  the  occipital 
curved  lines.  The  internal  pterygoid  insertion  is  rougher  than  that 
for  the  masseter  muscle. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,   VOL.    II. 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 
Pl.  VI.     Two  Views  of  Female  Skull,  No.  40,607. 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVEOIY  CF  WW 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsey.  25 

Lower  Jaw.— Weakly  developed.  Body  narrow  and  thin;  mandib- 
ular angle  open:  mental  projection  slight;  height  of  symphysis 
25  mm. 

NO.  40,616. —  Skull  of  adult  female.  The  cranium  is  large  and 
well  formed;  capacity  1,345  cc-  The  lachrymals,  ethmoids  and 
vomer  have  been  destroyed.  The  left  upper  third  molar  has  never 
erupted.  Of  the  lower  jaw  the  left,  second  and  third  and  the  right 
third  molars  have  disappeared,  and  the  alveoli  are  entirely  absorbed. 
The  alveolus  of  the  right  upper  third  molar  shows  that  tooth  to  have 
been  in  an  atrophied  condition.  The  upper  right  second  molar  and 
first  premolar  and  the  left  second  molar,  together  with  the  lower  right 
first  molar  and  left  second  and  third  molars  are  in  situ.  None  of  the 
alveoli  are  absorbed.  The  teeth  present  are  somewhat  worn,  especi- 
ally the  lower  right  molar,  which  has  been  ground  down  from  before 
backwards. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  Forehead  retreats  from  the  face;  very  slight 
glabella.  The  orbits  are  squarish  with  a  noticeable  droop  to  the 
axes.  The  infraorbital  region  is  broad.  The  nasals  are  broad  and  the 
inter- nasal  and  naso-frontal  ancJija^QHitiaxillary  sutures  are  synostosed. 
The  nasal  openings  are  rounded,  s^jthrMery  weak  nasal  spine.  Canine 
foss;e  fairly  deep.     The  form  of  tl^fa^efisiftejarly  square. 

Norma  Verticalis. — Parietal  eminence  prominent.    Phaenozygous. 

Norma  Posterior. —  Pentagonal  in  form,  but  nearly  as  broad  as 
high.      Superior  angle  very  open. 

Norma  Lateralis. —  Both  right  and  left  pterion  are  formed  by  a 
broad  frontal  process  of  the  temporal  bone.  The  curve  of  the  temporo- 
parietal suture  is  very  slight  and  quite  the  opposite  from  the  European 
type.  Forehead  is  low  but  curves  backwards  gradually,  flattened 
over  vertex,  with  strong  occipital  development  between  lambda  and 
external  occipital  protuberance,  which  shows  strongly  in  profile. 
The  superciliary  ridges  are  slight,  with  scarcely  any  naso-frontal 
depression.      Marked  alveolar  prognathism. 

Norma  Inferior. —  Foramen  magnum  of  oval  form,  with  the  con- 
dyles far  forward;  measures  39  x  33  mm.  Its  plane  has  a  slight  back- 
ward inclination.  The  foramen  ovale  is  of  exceptional  size,  that  of 
the  left  side  measuring  9x5  mm.  External  pterygoid  plates  broad, 
inner  correspondingly  narrow.      Palate  shallow. 

Sutures. — Very  simple  (No.  2  of  Broca's  scale).  The  coronal 
suture  below  stephanion  is  completely  effaced.  This  is  almost  the 
condition  of  the  posterior  four-fifths  of  the  sagittal  and  nearly  all  of 
the  lambdoidal.      There  are   three  large   wormian  bones  at  lambda; 


26  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

and  three  in  the  left  and  four  in  the  right  lambdoidal  suture.  There 
is  also  a  cluster  of  wormian  bones  at  both  right  and  left  asterion. 
The  malo-maxillary  and  spheno-frontal  sutures  are  synostosed. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  are  small  nipple-like  projections,  much 
compressed  from  side  to  side.  The  styloids  have  been  broken  out. 
Superior  curved  line  and  inion  strongly  developed  for  a  female 
skull. 

Muscular  Impressions. —  Not  strongly  marked  except  frontal  por- 
tion of  superior  temporal  line  and  the  region  of  the  masseter  of  the 
mandible. 

Lower  Jaw. — Mandibular  angle,  1150;  coronoid  process  sharp 
and  long;  height  of  symphysis,  30  mm. 

NO.  40,608. —  Cranium  of  adult  female.  The  left  zygomatic  arch 
is  broken,  as  well  as  the  lachrymals,  turbinals,  ethmoids  and  vomer. 
The  cranium  is  small,  round  and  smooth.  Cranial  capacity,  1,170  cc. 
All  the  molars  of  both  jaws  and  the  upper  first  premolars  and  second 
incisors  and  lower  right  second  premolar  are  in  situ.  The  alveoli  of 
the  other  teeth  are  open.  The  teeth  are  not  worn  and  are  sound  and 
perfect.      Dental  index,  45. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  Forehead  narrow  and  retreating,  orbits  rect- 
angular, with  infraorbital  suture  on  right  and  left  side.  Nasal  bones 
of  unequal  size,  broad  and  flat;  nasal  opening  rounded,  with  diminu- 
tive anterior  nasal  spine.  Canine  fossae  not  depressed.  Malars  flat- 
tened and  appressed. 

Norma  Verticalis. — Ovoid  outline  sharply  defined,  with  prominent 
parietal  eminences  placed  far  back.  Dish-like  depression  at  lambda. 
The  bi-zygostephanic  index  can  not  be  determined. 

Norma  Posterior. —  Pentagonal  with  longest  dimensions  at  sides; 
angle  at  vertex  very  slight. 

Norma  Lateralis. —  Frontal  tubera  not  prominent.  Marked  facial 
and  alveolar  prognathism.  Glabella  rounded  but  no  trace  of  super- 
ciliary ridges.  Naso-frontal  depression  very  slight.  Pterion  almost 
in  K.     Zygoma  (left)  thin  and  delicate. 

Norma  Inferior. —  Foramen  magnum  diamond  shaped,  with  con- 
dyles very  far  forward;  measures  32  x  28  mm.  Deep  condyloid  fossa-. 
Foramen  spinosum  and  foramen  ovale  have  a  long,  common  slit-like 
opening,  with  the  apex  of  the  petrosal  for  a  posterior  boundary. 

Sutures. —  Exceedingly  simple  in  region  of  bregma  and  pterion. 
The  sagittal  and  lambdoidal  are  somewhat  complex.  There  is  a 
small  wormian  bone  just  below  the  left  asterion,  and  several  tiny 
ossicles  in  the  left  lambdoidal  suture. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,    VOL.    II 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 
Pl.  VII.    Two  Views  of  Female  Skull,  No.  40,612. 


THE  UBRARY 

OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsin.  27 

Processes. —  Mastoids  small.  External  occipital  protuberance  not 
indicated.      Both  pterygoid  plates  almost  absent. 

Muscular  Impressions.  —  Very  slight.  Occipital  lines  barely  dis- 
tinguishable. 

NO.  40,615. —  Cranium  of  a  young  female.  All  the  teeth  have 
erupted,  including  the  third  molars,  but  the  basilar  synchondrosis  is 
open.  The  teeth  are  all  large,  well  formed,  and  there  is  no  trace  of 
wear.  The  upper  right  and  the  lateral  left  incisors  are  lost.  Cranial 
capacity,  1,365  cc. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  (See  PI.  VIII,  Fig.  1.)  The  frontal  region  is 
very  narrow — minimum  width,  89  mm. — with  a  faintly  indicated  gla- 
bella, but  no  trace  of  superciliary  ridges.  The  orbits  are  rectangular 
in  form,  with  infraorbital  suture  on  left  side.  The  nasal  bones  are 
small,  somewhat  flattened  and  of  unequal  size.  The  slope  of  the  nasal 
opening  is  very  marked,  and  the  nasal  spine  is  almost  nil.  The  canine 
fossa:*  are  deep. 

Norma  Verticalis. —  Ovoid  shaped.  The  narrowness  of  the  frontal 
region  is  striking.  Parietal  eminences  are  beautifully  indicated  and 
are  situated  well  back;  that  of  the  right  side,  however,  is  about  10 
mm.  anterior  to  that  of  the  left. 

Norma  Posterior. —  (See  PI.  VIII,  Fig.  2.)  Pentagonal  in  form, 
higher  than  broad  and  narrowed  below.  The  superior  curved  line  is 
hidden  from  view. 

Norma  Lateralis.  — (See  PI.  VIM,- Fig;.;  3.)  Frontal  development 
is  fairly  well  marked,  but  the  tubera  are  not  prominent.  The  naso- 
frontal depression  is  very  slight.  The  face  is  decidedly  prognathic, 
the  alveolar  prognathism  being  very  prominent. 

Norma  Inferior. —  Foramen  magnum  rounded;  prominent  jugular 
processes,  with  deep  condyloid  fossa?. 

Sutures. —  Nos.  2-3  of  Broca's  scale.      No  wormian  bones. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  small  and  sharp,  but  much  compressed 
from  side  to  side,  and  deep  digastric  groove.  No  external  occipital 
protuberance. 

Muscular  Impressions. —  Occipital  ridges  scarcely  visible.  Supe- 
rior temporal  line  well  marked  but  not  situated  high  up.  Insertion 
areas  of  sterno-cleido-mastoid  and  splenius  capitus  are  very  rough. 

Mandible. — Well  developed.  Mandibular  angle  very  open.  Cor- 
onoid  process  long  and  sharp,  an  unusual  condition  for  a  young 
skull. 

NO.  40,610.— This  skull  is  that  of  an  adult,  but  whether  of  male 
or  female  it  is  difficult  to  decide.      It  has  a  glabella  and  inion  of  rather 


28  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

more  than  the  usual  female  proportions,  but  its  small  capacity  and 
absence  of  muscular  impressions  incline  me  to  consider  it  the  skull  of 
a  female,  and  in  the  table  of  measurements  it  has  been  so  placed. 
Cranial  capacity,  1,275  cc.  The  teeth  present  are  in  perfect  condition 
and  but  very  slightly  worn;  the  following  have  been  lost:  upper  and 
lower  left  lateral  incisors  and  canines.  The  interior  nares  have  not 
been  damaged  in-  the  tying  of  the  jaws. 

Norma  Frontalis. — The  frontal  region  is  narrow,  the  minimum 
width  being  87  mm.  The  orbits  are  nearly  square,  with  narrow  infra- 
orbital space.  There  is  present  the  infraorbital  suture  on  both 
sides.  The  nasal  bones  are  long,  narrow  and  not  flattened;  nasal 
opening  is  slightly  rounded,  and  the  spine  is  poorly  developed.  The 
maxillaries  are  high  and  compressed;  deep  canine  fossae.  The  gen- 
eral shape  of  the  entire  face  is  long  and  narrow.  The  malar  tuberosity 
is  but  faintly  indicated,  and  the  zygoma  are  contracted. 

Norma  Verticalis. —  Strongly  ovoid,  due  to  excessive  development 
of  parietal  eminences;  posterior  region  narrows  rapidly  but  is  pro- 
longed backwards  toward  the  upper  occipital  squama.  Frontal 
region  narrow.      Phsenozygous. 

Norma  Posterior. —  Irregularly  pentagonal,  owing  to  asymmetri- 
cal development  of  the  parietal  eminences,  that  of  the  right  side  being 
higher  up  than  that  of  the  left.  The  sides  are  nearly  straight,  and 
there  is  only  28  mm.  between  the  maximum  breadth  of  the  skull  and 
the  asterionic  diameter. 

Norma  Lateralis. — The  curve  of  the  vertex  is  gradual  from  gla- 
bella to  near  ophryon,  where  it  passes  rapidly  downwards  to  inion 
and  thence  forward.  Glabella  and  inion  show  plainly  in  profile,  but 
there  is  scarcely  any  superciliary  development.  The  frontal  eminences 
are  not  well  marked;  the  parietal  eminences  are  better  marked  and 
are  in  the  plane  of  the  maximum  width.  There  is  but  little  alveolar 
prognathism. 

Norma  Inferior. —  Foramen  magnum  almost  circular  in  shape, 
measures  30  x  27.  The  right  petrous  bone  is  defective  at  the  apex,  so 
that  the  foramen  lacerum  appears  as  a  long  slit-like  opening  which 
is  continuous  with  inferior  opening  of  the  carotid  canal.  The  pos- 
terior condyloid  foramina  are  absent.  The  right  jugular  fossa  is  of 
exceptional  size. 

Sutures. — The  sutures  are  all  simple,  especially  the  coronal, 
which  is  almost  a  straight  line.  The  coronal  contains  two  wormian 
ossicles  in  its  left  side,  and  there  is  a  small  epipteric  at  left  pterion. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  of  medium  size.  Styloids  very  insignificant. 
The    external    pterygoid    plates    are    very    broad    and    triangular   in 


FIELD    COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,   VOL.    II. 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 


Fig.  3. 
Pl.  VIII.    Three  Views  of  Female  Skull,  No.  40,605. 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM 


ANTHROPOLOGY,  VOL.  II. 


iMfc FlG  '■ 


'MM.'**!  n  i'm&m 


Fig.  2. 


Pl   X.    Two  Views  of  Child's  Skull,  No.  40,606. 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  HUN"" 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsey.  29 

shape;  internal  pterygoids  very  small.  No  hamular  process  of 
lachrymals. 

Muscular  Impressions. — The  temporal  line  is  broad  but  not 
rough  or  projecting.  The  occipital  superior  curved  line  is  fairly  well 
indicated,  and  extends  from  asterion  to  asterion.  Mylo-hyoid  ridge 
very  prominent. 

Lower  Jaw. —  Small  and  weakly  developed.  The  mandibular 
angles  converge  to  a  considerable  extent.  Mental  development 
small.      Height  of  symphysis,  30  mm. 


C     CHILD'S  CRANIUM. 


NO.  40,606. —  Skull  of  a  child.  Of  the  permanent  teeth,  the  upper 
and  lower  first  molars,  lower  incisors  and  upper  inner  incisors  have 
erupted.  The  age  is,  therefore,  from  8  to  9  years.  Each  of  the 
frontal  eminences  presents  a  pathological  appearance  and  is  pitted 
with  innumerable  small  holes.  The  parietal  eminences  also  have  a 
somewhat  porous  or  spongy  appearance. 

Norma  Frontalis. —  (See  PI.  IX,  Fig.  1.)  An  indication  of  the 
glabella  can  already  be  made  out.  The  orbits  are  high  and  round, 
index  100.  The  nasal  bones  are  well  formed,  but  there  is  no 
bridge  as  yet;  openings  rounded.  The  frontal  development  is 
excessive. 

Norma  Verticalis.— (See  PI.  IX,  Fig.  2.)  Ovoid  form.  The 
eminences  are  all  prominent  and  globular,  so  that  there  are  no  sharp 
angles  in  the  outline. 

Norma  Posterior. —  (See  PI.  X,  Fig.  1.)  Almost  circular.  The 
crown  is  slightly  flattened  with  narrow  base  and  wide  parietals. 

Norma  Lateralis. —  (See  PI.  X,  Fig.  2.)  The  forehead  rises 
high  and  straight  above  the  face;  alveolar  prognathism  slight. 

Norma  Inferior.— Foramen  magnum  oval,  measures  30x24  mm. 
There  are  no  mastoid  foramina,  nor  are  the  posterior  condylar  fora- 
mina present.  The  left  sphenoidal  spine  is  long  and  hook-like,  and 
is  deflected  backwards  immediately  over  the  foramen  spinosum. 

Sutures. —  Are  all  extremely  simple.  There  is  a  faint  trace  of 
the  frontal  suture,  and  a  cleft  can  still  be  seen  from  right  and  left 
asterion  passing  out  into  the  occipital  bone  for  a  distance  of  about 
10  mm. 

Muscular  Impressions. — The  temporal  lines  are  well  marked. 

Processes. —  Mastoids  small;  external  pterygoids  already  broad 
with  long  hamular  processes. 


30  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 


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Ai  g.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsky.  31 


GENERAL  SUMMARY. 


It  may  not  be  without  interest  to  note  in  the  first  place  that  in  no 
skull  was  there  a  metopic  suture,  a  divided  malar  bone,  or  an  inter- 
parietal bone,  nor  was  there  any  sign  of  disease  or  any  pathological 
condition,  unless  we  except  that  of  the  child's  skull.  Furthermore 
there  is  no  evidence  whatever  that  any  of  the  skulls  have  ever  been 
subjected  to  artificial  deformation.  The  skulls,  as  a  rule,  are  small, 
compact  and  heavy.  The  average  weight  of  the  skull,  including  the 
lower  jaw,  is  26  ounces  for  the  males,  and  20  ounces  for  the  females; 
the  range  being  22  to  31  ounces  for  the  males,  and  18  to  23  ounces 
for  the  females,  a  difference  between  the  two  sexes  so  great  and  so 
constant  as  to  possess  considerable  value.  The  average  cranial 
capacity  for  the  two  sexes  is  1,343  cc.  The  average  for  the  males  is 
1.425  cc.  with  a  range  of  variation  from  1,275  cc.  to  1,560  cc. ;  the 
average  for  the  female  is  1,262  cc,  with  a  range  of  1,060  cc.  to  1,365 
cc.  An  examination  of  the  table  reveals  the  fact  that  there  seems  to 
be  no  correlation  between  the  weight  of  the  skull  and  its  cranial 
capacity.  Thus,  in  the  male  series  the  skull  with  a  capacity  of 
1,545  cc.  weighs  only  22  ounces,  while  the  skull  with  a  capacity  of 
1,390  cc  weighs  31  ounces.  Similar  observations  could  be  made 
from  the  female  skulls.  The  capacity  as  given  above  is  slightly 
greater  than  that  given  by  Hovelacque  and  Herve  for  Papuans  of 
New  Guinea:  they  give  1,350  cc  for  the  males,  and  1,250  cc  for  the 
females.  According  to  the  above  figures,  the  average  sexual  differ- 
ence in  the  capacity  is  165  cc.  The  skulls  as  a  whole  are  micro- 
cephalic, although  only  two  of  the  male  series  would  fall  into  that 
group,  the  remaining  ones  being  mesocephalic,  with  three  in  the 
megacephalic  group.      But  one  female  skull  is  mesocephalic. 

Norma  Frontalis. — The  frontal  region  varies  considerably,  natu- 
rally, in  the  two  sexes.  In  the  males  it  is  narrow,  not  high,  and 
generally  very  retreating.  The  female  frontal  region  is  broader  and 
slightly  vertical,  owing  to  the  frequent  strong  development  of  the 
frontal  eminences.  In  no  case,  even  in  the  females,  does  the  frontal 
development  assume  any  considerable  vertical  height,  and  in  two 
at  least  of  the  females  the  backward  inclination  is  more  marked  than 
it  is  in  some  of  the  male  crania.  The  average  minimum  frontal 
width  for  the  males  is  96  mm.  with  a  range  of  variation  from  87  to  103 
mm.,  the  average  for  the  females  is  90  mm.  the  variation  ranging 
from  87  to  95  mm. 

The   glabella   is,    as  a  general   rule,   strongly  developed   in   the 


32  Field    Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

males  and  barely  indicated  in  the  females.  Often,  however,  in  the 
males  the  prominence  of  the  glabella  is  entirely  overshadowed  by  the 
strong  development  of  the  supraorbital  ridges.  The  latter  are  even  less 
faintly  marked  in  the  females  than  is  the  glabella.  The  sides  of  the 
orbit  are  generally  thin  and  sharp  and  straight,  thus  forming  a 
squarish  or  quadrilateral  outline,  the  former  prevailing  in  the  females, 
the  latter  in  the  males.  We  may  expect,  therefore,  to  find  some 
difference  in  the  orbital  index  for  the  two  sexes.  This  average  is  84 
for  the  males,  with  a  maximum  index  of  94  and  a  minimum  index  of  80; 
the  average  for  the  seven  females  is  91,  with  102  for  the  maximum 
and  80  for  the  minimum.  The  males  thus  fall  into  the  mesoseme 
group,  while  the  females  belong  to  the  megaseme  group.  The 
average  for  both  sexes  is  87,  which  corresponds  pretty  well  to  the 
average  of  Papuans  measured  by  Turner,  but  is  higher  than  the 
average  given  by  Quatrefages  and  Hamy.  The  interorbital  space 
varies  in  width  in  individual  skulls  but  it  certainly  averages  more 
than  in  the  European  races.  The  angle  of  the  axes  of  the  orbits  also 
varies  greatly  in  the  individual  crania.  I  have  measured  it  in  several 
cases  and  find  it  in  a  few  instances  to  exceed  150.  In  the  fifteen 
skulls  the  infraorbital  suture  is  found  on  both  sides  six  times, 
equally  divided  between  the  two  sexes.  This  anomalous  suture,  as 
Turner  has  shown,  is  simply  the  survival  of  a  fissure  which  is  always 
present  in  early  life  but  which  normally  becomes  obliterated. 

I  have  already  remarked  that  in  a  majority  of  skulls  the  lachry- 
mals and  ethmoid  bones  have  been  destroyed.  In  five  skulls  the 
lachrymals  are  present.  They  are  generally  small,  deep  set  and 
possess  only  a  slight  hamular  development.  In  one  case,  however, 
the  process  reaches  the  face,  while  in  another  case  it  is  absent  alto- 
gether. 

The  nasal  bones  are  subject  to  considerable  variation;  in  some 
skulls  they  are  broad,  even, and  symmetrical,  in  others  they  are  small, 
triangular  in  shape  and  very  unsymmetrical.  The  lower  margins  are 
in  the  majority  of  the  skulls  more  or  less  damaged.  Partial  oblitera- 
tion of  the  nasal  structure  occurs  twice.  The  angle  formed  by  the 
nasal  bones  varies  greatly  in  the  different  skulls.  In  a  few  instances 
the  angle  is  decidedly  open,  so  that  there  is  no  well  formed  nasal 
bridge;  in  others  the  bridge  is  sharp  and  prominent.  The  crest  of 
the  nasal  bridge  is  concave  above,  with  a  slight  convexity  toward  the 
inferior  extremity.  In  no  single  case  can  the  lower  margin  of  the 
nasal  opening  be  said  to  be  sharp.  It  is  either  round,  or  in  a  few 
cases  sloping,  so  that  the  openings  are  directed  almost  downwards. 
The  nasal  spine  is  invariably  of  weak  development  and  small  propor- 


("RARY 
UNIVERSITY  of  ILLINOIS. 

Al  G.    1897.       OBSERVATIONS    ON    PAPUAN    CRANIA DORSEY.  33 

tions.  In  a  few  instances  there  is  a  well  marked  incisor  crest.  The 
mean  nasal  index  for  eight  males  is  51,  varying  from  47  to  59;  for  the 
seven  females  the  mean  is  53,  the  range  being  from  48  to  60.  The 
mean  general  index  for  the  entire  series  is  52,  thus  just  coming  within 
the  mesorhine  group.  This  also  agrees  with  Prof.  Turner's  results, 
but  is  considerably  less  than  the  figure-  given  by  Hovelacque  and 
Herve,  which  is  54.9. 

In  a  great  majority  of  skulls  the  canine  fossae  are  deep,  even  in 
some  few  examples  cavernous.  I  am  not  able  to  detect  any  sexual 
difference  in  this  respect,  the  variation  apparently  bring  wholly  indi- 
vidual. The  alveolar  process  of  the  facial  surface  of  the  maxillary 
bones  has,  as  a  rule,  an  impoverished,  compressed  appearance,  so 
that  the  eminences  produced  by  the  fangs  of  the  teeth  stand  out  in 
relief;  in  many  skulls  they  are  so  clean  cut  and  well  defined  that  the 
exact  course  of  the  fangs  of  all  the  teeth  can  be  made  out. 

I  have  not  taken  the  inter-malar  breadth,  but  have  made  a  com- 
parative examination  of  the  shape,  size,  etc.,  of  the  malar  bones.  On 
the  whole  thev  have  the  appearance  of  being  slightly  undersized. 
They  are  not  especially  prominent,  and  have  sharp,  thin  borders.  In 
the  males  the  tubeix>sity  is  well  defined  and  projecting;  quite  the 
reverse  is  true  of  the  females.  The  average  bizygomatic  diameter  for 
the  entire  series  is  123  mm.  There  is  considerable  difference  between 
the  two  sexes;  in  the  males  the  mean  is  128  mm.,  maximum  134 
mm.,  minimum  122  mm.  In  the  females  the  mean  is  118  mm.,  max- 
imum 127  mm.,  minimum  109  mm.  I  have  no  measurement  which 
equals  that  of  140  mm.  of  Prof.  Turner,  while  on  the  other  hand  I 
can  find  nothing  in  his  figures  which  compares  with  my  minimum  of 
109  mm.  This  diameter  comes  from  a  female  skull  which  is  only 
remarkable  otherwise  for  its  extreme  amount  of  alveolar  and  dental 
prognathism. 

For  reasons  already  given  I  have  begun  both  facial-height  diam- 
eters at  nasion.  The  mean  naso-alveolar  length  is  70  mm.  The 
average  male  length  is  72  mm.,  maximum  77  mm.,  minimum  66  mm.; 
the  average  for  the  females  is  69  mm.,  maximum  75  mm.,  minimum 
65  mm.  The  maximum  length  given  by  Turner  is  68  mm.  In  seven 
of  the  eight  males  the  naso-mental  length  could  be  taken;  this  ranged 
from  no  mm.  to  119  mm.,  with  an  average  of  115  mm.  In  the  »  \.  □ 
females  the  mean  is  107  mm.,  with  a  maximum  of  114  mm.,  and  a 
minimum  of  96  mm.  From  the  bizygomatic  diameter  and  the  naso- 
alveolar  length  we  get  the  index  of  the  upper  or  true  face.  This 
varies  from  52  to  61,  with  a  mean  of  55  for  the  males  and  from  54  to 
59  with  mean  of  57  for  the  females,  thus  making  the  average  index 


34  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

for  the  entire  series  56.  This  gives  a  face  which  is  not  extremely 
broad  nor  extremely  narrow,  and  which  may  be  properly  char- 
acterized as  mesoprosopic.  It  was  possible  to  compute  the  total 
facial  index  in  six  males  and  five  females.  The  results  are:  For  the 
males,  average  91,  maximum  96,  minimum  88;  for  the  females,  aver- 
age 89,  maximum  95,  minimum  84.  The  average  for  both  sexes  is 
90,  which  again  comes  within  the  mesoprosopic  division. 

In  determining  the  gnathic  index  I  have  compared  the  basi- 
spinal  to  the  basi-alveolar  length  after  the  method  of  Prof.  Flower,* 
except,  it  will  be  noted,  that  I  have  used  as  the  standard  the  basi- 
spinal  rather  than  the  basi-nasal  length.  This  gives  a  more  accurate 
expression  of  what  Topinard  calls  the  true  prognathism,  or  alveo- 
subnasal  prognathism.  The  data  are  present,  however,  in  the.  table 
to  compute  the  basi-nasal  basi-alveolar  relationship.  As  the  basi- 
spinal  length  is  taken  as  100,  the  higher  the  index  the  greater  is  the 
basi-alveolar  length,  and  so,  consequently,  the  greater  is  the  amount 
of  prognathism.  The  average  index  for  the  males  is  107,  minimum 
104,  maximum  in;  for  the  females  the  average  is  no,  minimum  106, 
maximum  117.  The  mean  general  gnathic  index  for  the  entire  series 
is  108;  this  represents  an  extreme  amount  of  prognathism  which  is 
probably  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  other  race.  Furthermore,  this 
does  not  represent  the  full  prognathic  character  of  this  series  of 
crania,  for  it  leaves  out  of  consideration  the  teeth,  which  in  many 
cases  project  forward  at  an  angle  of  2o°-40°. 

Norma  Verticalis. — The  skulls  are,  as  a  rule,  long  and  narrow, 
with  compressed  frontal  region,  fairly  well  developed  parietal  emi- 
nences which  are  usually  situated  pretty  well  back.  There  is  a 
marked  difference  between  the  two  sexes  in  the  dimensions.  Thus, 
the  average  maximum  length  in  the  male  is  182  mm.,  in  the  female 
the  average  is  171  mm.  The  longest  cranium  measured  is  191  mm., 
that  of  a  male;  the  shortest  is  164  mm.,  belonging  to  a  female.  The 
average  maximum  width  of  the  male  crania  is  131  mm.,  of  the  female 
127  mm.  The  range  of  variation  for  the  entire  series  is  from  118  mm.  to 
140  mm.  Adopting  the  classification  of  Prof.  Flower  for  the  ceph- 
alic index,  it  appears  that  the  male  crania  are,  without  a  single 
exception,  dolichocephalic,  having  a  mean  index  of  71,  with  a  maxi- 
mum of  74  and  a  minimum  index  of  65,  the  series  as  a  whole  being 
remarkably  uniform.  There  is  even  more  uniformity  in  the  indices  of 
the  seven  females,  with  the  exception  of  one  skull  which  has  the  low 
index  of  65.      The  other  six  range  from  72  to  77,  and  average  75,  and 

*  '•  On  the  Osteology  and  Affinities  of  the  Natives  of  the  Andaman  Islands."  Journal  of  An- 
throp.  Institute,  Nov.,  1S79.  p.  12. 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorset.  35 

with  the  addition  of  the  index  of  65  the  mean  total  average  for  the 
female  index  is  73.  As  the  glabella  contributes  not  a  little  to  lower 
the  index  in  the  male  cranium,  the  difference  between  the  two  sexes 
is  no  more  than  we  should  expect  to  find  The  decided  dolichotvph- 
alism  of  the  entire  series  is  extremely  interesting  in  view  of  the  prob- 
ability, as  shown  by  Turner,  of  the  existence  of  a  brachycephalic  as 
as  well  as  a  dolichocephalic  type  on  the  island  of  New  Guinea,  and 
I  more  than  ever  regret  that  the  exact  locality  from  which  the  col- 
lection under  consideration  comes  is  not  known.  It  may  be  noted 
here,  however,  that  the  uniformity  which  generally  prevails  in  the 
cephalic  index,  as  well  as  in  the  other  important  indices  of  the  cra- 
nium, render  it  extremely  likely  that  the  crania  are  from  a  single  local- 
it} .  How  much  light  can  be  thrown  on  the  location  of  this  region 
by  the  carvings  on  the  frontal  bones  remains  yet  to  be  seen.  It  is  to 
be  noted  in  this  place  also,  although  I  have  already  briefly  alluded  to 
the  fact,  that  there  is  no  evidence  of  any  of  the  crania  having  been 
subjected  to  artificial  pressure,  either  in  the  frontal  or  parietooccip- 
ital region.  This  fact  also  helps  to  circumscribe  the  territory  from 
which  these  skulls  might  have  come,  as  it  has  been  shown  that  arti- 
ficial deformation,  either  in  the  frontal  or  parieto-occipital  region,  is 
practiced  in  several  parts  of  the  island. 

I  have  taken  the  bi-stephanic  breadth  in  both  the  males  and 
females  :  it  averages  100  mm.  and  101  mm.  respectively.  This  diam- 
ter  compared  to  the  bizygomatic  diameter  gives*  what  Topinard  has 
called  the  bi-zygostephanic  or  fronto  zygomatic  index,  and  shows  the 
amount  of  zygomatic  projection  or  greatest  cranio-facial  width  in  rela- 
tion to  the  fronto-parietal  breadth  at  stephanion,  thus  forming  a  good 
substitute  for  the  so-called  angle  of  Quatrefages.  This  index  for  the 
males  is  78,  in  the  females  it  is  naturally  higher,  85.  The  entire 
series  is  thus  decidedly  phaenozygous,  as  opposed  to  cryptozygous, 
where  the  index  is  above  90.  According  to  the  results  obtained  by 
Professor  Garson  and  others  this  index  of  78  for  the  males  is  the  low- 
est averaget  recorded  for  any  race  except  the  Eskimo  and  some  other 
branches  of  the  Papuan  group.  As  will  be  noted  more  fully  later  on 
the  temporal  lines  are  as  a  rule  prominently  indicated  and  often 
encroach  upon  the  vertex.  By  comparing  my  measurements  it 
appears  that  there  is  no  sexual  difference  in  this  respect,  and  that  in 
at  least  seven  crania  the  temporal  line  extends  to  within  less  than  50 
mm.  of  the  sagittal  suture,  the  variation  for  the  entire  series  being 
from  40  to  70  mm. 

*See  especially,  Turner  :  Challenger  Reports.  Zoology.  Vol   X.  pp.  85,86. 
+See  Journal  of  Anthrop.  Society  for  1879-80,  and  for  May.  1S94. 


36  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

• 

Norma  Posterior. —  All  of  the  skulls  are  of  pentagonal  form,  but 
the  outline  is  varied  considerably  in  the  different  individuals  by  a 
greater  or  less  development  of  the  parietal  eminences,  and  by  the 
angle  which  the  parietal  bones  make  at  the  sagittal  suture.  In  some 
cases  this  is  very  open  ;  in  others  it  is  so  sharp  as  to  give  a  crest-like 
appearance  to  the  vertex.  The  sides  of  the  crania  are  as  a  rule 
nearly  straight  and  parallel,  so  that  in  many  cases  the  bi-asterionic 
diameter  nearly  equals  the  maximum  breadth  diameter.  The  latter 
diameter  is  invariably  found  through  the  parietal  eminences.  In  only 
one  instance  are  the  parietal  eminences  unusually  prominent,  and  in 
this  skull  the  basilar  synchondrosis  is  still  open,  although  the  third 
molars  have  all  erupted.  The  width  of  the  base  of  the  cranium  is 
remarkably  uniform,  averaging  98  mm.  in  the  male  series  and  94  mm. 
in  the  female  series  ;  the  range  of  variation  for  the  entire  series  being 
but  16  mm.  Although  the  data  are  present  in  the  table,  I  have  not 
computed  the  altitudinal  index  of  breadth-height  for  each  individual 
skull  ;  but  comparing  the  average  of  these  two  diameters  for  the 
entire  series  we  have  a  mean  general  breadth-height  index  of  100  ;  in 
other  words  the  basi-bregmatic  height  and  the  maximum  breadth  are 
equal.  In  one  instance,  however,  the  index  is  108.  The  average 
breadth-height  index  for  Papuans  is  put  by  Topinard  at  105. 

Norma  Lateralis. — With  but  few  exceptions  the  frontal  develop- 
ment is  weak,  the  eminences  are  not  strongly  marked,  and  there  is 
consequently  very  little  vertical  development  in  the  frontal  bone. 
The  highest  point  of  the  vertex  is  situated  to  a  considerable  distance 
behind  bregma,  while  the  vertex  is,  as  a  general  rule,  somewhat  flat- 
tened. The  curve  downwards  from  obelion  to  inion  is  very  rapid, 
with  occasionally  a  depression,  so  that  the  curve  is  almost  straight- 
ened out.  There  is  in  all  instances  a  well  marked  occipital  develop- 
ment between  lambda  and  the  external  occipital  protuberance,  so  that 
in  no  case  does  the  maximum  diameter  fall  at  the  external  occipital 
protuberance  or  below  it.  In  no  case,  furthermore,  is  there  any  pro- 
nounced subiniac  development,  that  portion  of  the  occipital  bone 
being  extremely  shallow  and  giving  but  very  little  depth  to  the  cere- 
bellar fossae. 

The  average  basi-bregmatic  height  for  the  eight  males  is  131 
mm.;  the  maximum  height  is  137  mm.;  the  minimum,  128  mm.;  the 
average  for  the  seven  females  is  127  mm.;  the  maximum  is  134  mm. ; 
minimum,  120  mm.  Combining  these  averages  with  the  glabello- 
occipital  length  we  have  a  mean  vertical  or  length-height  index  for 
the  males  of  71  ;  the  average  for  the  females  is,  as  might  be  expected, 
a  trifle  higher,  74.      The  highest  vertical  index  is   in  a   female   skull, 


Aug.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsin.  37 

Si  :  the  lowest  is  68,  from  a  male.  Adopting  the  nomenclature  of 
Turner,*  we  may  say  the  series  is  very  slightly  metriocephalic,  or, 
in  the  German  nomenclature,  orthocephalic.  It  may  be  noted  in  the 
table  that  the  mean  general  vertical  index  and  the  cephalic  index  are 
about  equal.  Of  course,  this  can  happen  only  when  the  basi-breg- 
matic  height  is  equal  to  the  maximum  transverse  diameter.  As 
Turner  has  shown,  this  is  not  the  case  in  the  brachycephalic  Papuan 
crania,  but  is  the  rule  in  the  dolichocephalic  crania.  If  the  doli- 
chocephalism  is  pronounced  the  vertical  index  will  exceed  the 
cephalic  index,  as  in  fact  it  does  in  the  majority  of  the  skulls  of 
the  present  series. 

Norma  Inferior. — The  foramen  magnum  is  ovoid  or  at  times  dia- 
mond shape  in  outline.  It  averages  35  mm.  in  length  in  the  males 
and  32  mm.  in  the  females  ;  the  average  width  is  29  mm.  for  the  males 
and  27  mm.  for  the  females  ;  hence  the  foramen  magnum  is  larger  in  the 
males  than  in  the  females.  The  basilar  process  is  short  and  relatively 
narrow.  The  condyles  are,  as  a  rule,  well  forward,  and  in  some  instances 
encroach  on  the  anterior  median  aspect.  There  is  considerable  indi- 
vidual variation  in  the  size,  etc.,  of  the  various  foramina,  the  foramen 
ovale  and  spinosum  especially  showing  considerable  range,  and  the 
posterior  condyloid  foramen  being  absent  in  several  instances  and  the 
fossae  being  subject  to  great  variation  in  size  and  depth.  In  one 
skull  there  was  platybasic  deformation. 

For  reasons  already  given  it  was  found  impossible  to  measure  or 
fully  describe  the  hard  palate,  and  this  is  much  to  be  regretted.  A 
well  marked  torus  palatinus  occurs  once,  and  in  two  palates  the 
transverse  palatine  suture  is  not  horizontal  but  oblique  in  its  course, 
owing  to  the  encroachment  of  the  median  portions  of  the  palatine 
bones  on  the  maxillary  bones.  In  no  skull  was  there  discovered  any 
trace  of  a  pre-or  inter- maxillary  suture,  but  this  failure  may  in  part, 
perhaps,  be  ascribed  to  the  blackened  condition  of  the  palates  and 
also  to  the  fact  that  careful  examination  from  the  inferior  surface  was 
impossible.  It  was  also  impossible  to  make  any  observations  on  the 
depth,  width  or  position  of  the  glenoid  foss;r. 

Lower  Jaw. —  No  definite  series  of  observations  was  made  on  tin 
lower  jaw  for  reasons  already  given,  but  its  weak  development  is 
very  noticeable.  The  mental  protuberance  and  tubercles  are  rarely 
strongly  marked,  while  in  many  instances  there  is  a  distinct  backward 
inclination  in  the  symphysis  from  above  downwards.  The  ramus 
may  be  described   as   short   and    narrow,   with    an    extremely    open 

♦"Challenger  Reports,"  Zoology.  Vol.  X,  "  Human  Crania,"  p.  ;. 


38  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.  II. 

mandibular  angle.  The  mental  spines  are,  as  a  rule,  very  faintly 
marked.  The  most  striking  feature,  perhaps,  of  the  whole  series  is 
the  roughened  masseter  surface,  which,  at  times,  becomes  a  veritable 
outward  projecting  crest  at  the  base  of  the  ramus.  This  is  more 
noticeable  in  the  males  than  in  the  females. 

Teeth. —  In  four  male  skulls  and  in  six  female  skulls  it  was  possi- 
ble to  compute  the  dental  index,  after  the  method  of  Prof.  Flower.* 
The  average  for  the  males  is  41,  with  a  maximum  of  43  and  a  mini- 
mum of  40;  the  average  index  for  the  female  series  is  45,  with  a 
maximum  of  49  and  a  minimum  of  42.  The  mean  general  index  for 
the  series  is  43.  As  the  female  series  is  the  larger,  and  hence  more 
accurate,  and  as  Prof.  Flower  has  shown  that  there  is  an  average  of 
only  two  points,  or  even  less,  between  the  two  sexes,  it  is  highly 
probable  that  the  mean  general  index  in  this  series  is  too  low,  and 
that  the  index  of  44  would  be  more  accurate  as  an  index  for  the 
group.  As  it  is,  the  males  are  in  the  microdont  and  the  females  in 
the  megadont  division. 

It  is  a  somewhat  significant  fact  that  in  no  skull  is  there  a  single 
unsound  tooth,  and  only  in  two  skulls  have  any  teeth  been  lost  dur- 
ing life.  The  teeth  are  invariably  good  sized,  well  formed  and  gen- 
erally in  perfect  alignment  As  has  been  described  in  the  preceding 
section,  in  two  of  the  lower  jaws  there  is  a  supernumerary  molar,  and 
in  three  skulls  one  or  both  pairs  of  the  third  molars  have  been  sup- 
pressed. These  I  have  commented  upon  more  fully  elsewhere,  -j* 
The  wear  of  the  teeth  has  been  almost  nil;  in  only  one  case  could  the 
wear  be  said  to  correspond  to  No.  2  of  Broca's  scale. 

Sutures.— The  sutures  are,  as  a  rule,  exceedingly  simple.  Occa- 
sionally, however,  the  sagittal  or  lambdoidal  suture  is  very  coarsely 
serrated.  In  all  the  skulls  there  is  a  gradually  increasing  amount  of 
complexity  in  the  serration  beginning  with  the  coronal  and  ending 
with  the  lambdoidal.  There  is  but  little  evidence  of  synostosis,  no 
suture  being  entirely  effaced,  and  only  a  very  few  showing  any  signs 
of  synostosis  at  all.  Wormian  bones  occur  rather  frequently  in  the 
lambdoidal  suture,  the  largest  one  measuring  25x30  mm.  The  larg- 
est spheno-parietal  suture  is  19  mm.  In  two  instances  pterion  is 
formed  in  K.  In  four  it  is  pterion  "  retourne  " — always  by  a  frontal 
process  from  the  temporal  bone;  in  four  other  crania  epipteric  bones 
occur  at  pterion.  Thus  only  one-half  of  the  entire  series  have  pterion 
formed  in  the  usual  manner,  in  H. 

*On  the  Size  of  the  Teeth  as  a  Character  of  Race.    Journal  of  the  Anthrop.  Inst.,  Nov.  1884. 
t  "Numerical  Variations  in  the  Molar  Teeth  of  Fifteen  Papuan  Skulls."     Dental  Review, 
April,  1897,  Chicago. 


Arc.  1897.     Observations  on  Papuan  Crania — Dorsby.  39 

Processes. — The  mastoid  processes  are  unusually  will  developed 
in  the  males;  poorly  developed  in  the  females.  But  even  when  they 
reach  their  greatest  development  they  by  no  means  attain  to  the  size 
often  found  in  American  crania;  they  generally  have  a  laterally  com- 
pressed appearance,  and  are  frequently  sharp  pointed.  The  styloid 
processes  have  all  been  destroyed.  In  many  of  the  crania,  especially 
those  of  males,  the  comparative  massiveness  of  the  external  angular 
process  forms  a  very  striking  feature  of  the  face. 

Muscular  Impressions.— Reference  has  been  made,  over  and  over 
again,  to  the  strongly  marked  temporal  lines;  they  are  almost  without 
exception  well  developed,  and  reach  high  up  on  the  temporal  bone 
towards  the  vertex.  The  impressions  for  the  masseter  and  external 
pterygoids  are  also,  as  a  rule,  heavily  moulded.  In  the  male  the 
external  occipital  lines  and  protuberance  are  strikingly  prominent. 
In  many  cases  the  superior  curved  line  forms  a  strong  projecting 
torus  occipitalis  transversus,  in  which  inion  is  entirely  overshadowed, 
but  in  other  skulls  inion  is  prolonged  into  a  large  roughened  projec- 
tion. 

Summary. — The  crania  as  a  whole  may  be  characterized  as  : 

MICROCEPHALIC,  PROGNATHIC, 

DOLICHOCEPHALIC,  MESOPROSOPK  , 

METRIOCEPHALIC,  MESORHIXE, 

•  PH.^NOZVGOUS,  MESOSEME, 

MHGAPONT  (MBSODON  I  ). 


PRESERVATION    AND    DECORATIVE    FEATURES   OF 
PAPUAN  CRANIA,   By  WM.  H.  HOLMES. 


ORIGIN  OF  CRANIA. 


Our  information  in  regard  to  the  crania  described  by  Dr.  Dorsey 
in  the  preceding  pages  merely  enables  us  to  locate  them  in  a  general 
way  in  the  island  of  New  Guinea.  The  sea  captain  who  brought  them 
to  this  country  affirmed  (so  it  is  stated)  that  they  were  obtained  from 
a  native  chief,  and  it  is  probable  that  they  came  from  the  vicinity  of 
some  of  the  ports  of  the  island.  That  they  came  from  this  island  is 
confirmed  by  the  craniological  characters  of  the  specimens,  and  more 
especially  by  their  unique  embellishments,  the  latter  differing  from 
those  of  Borneo  and  other  islands  from  which  examples  have  been 
secured. 

As  a  matter  of  course  in  an  island  of  the  great  size  of  New 
Guinea,  there  are  numerous  more  or  less  distinct  groups  of  people, 
and  corresponding  groups  of  art  phenomena,  and  when  these  become 
better  known  there  will  probably  be  little  difficulty  in  relegating  these 
skulls  to  their  proper  people  and  province.  It  seems  not  unlikely 
that  they  are  from  the  northern  shores  of  the  Papuan  Gulf,  in  the 
British  protectorate,  since  the  decorative  designs  seem  to  affiliate 
pretty  closely  with  those  of  this  district,  as  illustrated  by  Haddon;* 
and  Chalmers  describes  engraved  skulls  as  commonly  preserved  in 
the  temples  of  that  locality. 


SKULLS  OF  FRIENDS  AND   FOES  PRESERVED. 

It  seems  pretty  well  established  that  skulls  of  friends  as  well  as 
of  foes  were  preserved  and  prized  by  these  peoples,  and  I  get  the 
impression  from  the  care  taken  of  the  specimens  under  consideration, 
and  the  tasteful  elaboration  of  the  decorative  features,  that  they  were 
the  skulls  of  members  of  the  tribes  or  families  owning  them,  rather 

*  Haddon,  A.  C,  Decorative  Art  of  British  New  Guinea,  p.  S9. 

41 


42  Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,   Vol.    II. 

than  of  enemies.  Chalmers  is  quoted  by  Haddon  as  saying  that  he  saw- 
in  the  temples  of  the  village  of  Maina  ' '  numerous  skulls  of  men,  women 
and  children,  crocodiles  and  wild  boars,  also  many  breasts  of  the  casso- 
wary. All  are  carved  and  many  painted.  The  human  skulls  are  of 
those  who  have  been  killed  and  eaten.  *  *  *  I  fancy  each  man 
who  has  killed  or  helped  to  kill  a  foe  has  his  own  peculiar  painting 
and  carving  on  the  skull."*  This  author  suggests  that  the  skulls  may 
have  been  used  as  offerings  to  the  wicker  images  seen  in  the  temples. 
It  is  possible  that  Chalmers'  idea  that  the  skulls  seen  were  the  skulls 
of  enemies  taken  in  battle  was  only  a  guess.  I  do  not  have  sufficient 
of  the  literature  of  the  subject  at  hand  to  enter  into  a  discussion  of 
this  point,  but  believe  it  to  be  a  fact  sufficiently  well  established  that 
among  many  of  the  insular  peoples  skulls  of  friends  and  relatives 
were  preserved  and  revered  as  sacred  relics,  and  even  in  cases  became 
the  subject  of  superstitious  veneration  or  worship;  and  this  is  cer- 
tainly much  more  reasonable  than  to  suppose  that  any  such  feelings 
should  extend  to  the  skulls  of  strangers  and  enemies.  It  is  undoubt- 
edly true,  how7ever,  that  the  skulls  of  enemies  were  and  still  are  taken 
and  preserved  by  these  and  many  other  peoples;  the  reason  most 
commonly  given  being  the  belief  that  they  imparted  to  the  possessor 
some  of  the  enviable  qualities  of  the  person  represented,  beside  no 
end  of  magic  influence.  These  skulls  were  used  as  drinking  cups, 
and  may  have  been  thought  to  impart  extraordinary  properties  to  the 
liquid  used.  Employed  thus  and  for  ceremonial  purposes  they  were 
probably  painted,  engraved  or  otherwise  ornamented,  but  I  have 
difficulty  in  believing  they  would  be  carefully  kept  intact,  preserved 
with  great  care  and  elaborately  ornamented  as  are  the  skulls  here 
considered. 

CARE  OF  CRANIA. 


The  preservation  of  these  skulls  was  evidently  a  matter  of  much 
concern  to  the  owners.  It  was  essential  that  they  should  be  perfect 
in  every  detail.  Especial  care  was  taken  that  no  part  should  be  lost. 
The  jaws  were  secured  by  fastenings  at  the  right  and  left  and  in  front. 
The  teeth  were  carefully  tied  in  and  when  lost  were  replaced  by  arti- 
ficial teeth  made  of  wood  or  other  material  shaped  in  imitation  of  the 
original  teeth.  This  is  illustrated  in  Nos.  40,612,  40,616,  40,614,  the 
much  decayed  wooden  substitutes  being  still  in  place. 

*  Quoted  by  Haddon,  Decorative  Art  of  British  New  Guinea,  p.  109. 


Aug.  1897.      Preservation,  Etc.,  01   Papuan  Crania. — Holmes.     43 

The  manner  of  securing  the  teeth  is  illustrated  in  several  of  the 
plates  and  especially  in  PI.  XI,  which  represents  a  portion  of  skull 
No.   40,607.      Fig.    1   is  intended  to  show   the  peculiar   knottings   or 


Fig.  1.     Manner  of  Looping  Cord  in  Fastening  Teeth  (Enlarged). 

loopings  employed.  The  cord  is  fastened  around  the  back  molar  on 
one  side,  and  carried  along,  inclosing  each  tooth  in  turn,  in  a  loop, 
making  a  very  effective  fastening  when  the  cord  is  tightly  drawn 
and  attached  to  the  back  molar  of  the  other  side.  As  indicated 
in  PI.  XI,  the  teeth  (see  third  upper  molar)  are  held  in  place  even 
after  becoming  entirely  loose  in  the  sockets.  The  cord,  shown  actual 
size  in  this  plate,  is  made  of  palm  fiber  and  is  well  twisted  and  even. 
The  lower  jaw  was  secured  at  the  right  and  left  by  heavy  twisted 
cords  or  palm  splints,  which  were  passed  several  times  through  a  hole 
drilled  in  the  ramus  just  below  the  sigmoid   notch   and  carried  over 


Fig.  2. 


Original  Fastening,  b ;   Broken  out  at  c. 
Carried  Around  Jaw,  a.    l/2. 


Second  Fastening 


the  zygomatic  arch.  The  fastening  was  completed  by  binding  the 
strands  tightly  around  the  middle  portion,  as  indicated  in  Fig.  2  and 
in  some  of  the  plates.      Fig.    2  illustrates  an  instance  in  which   the 


44 


Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,  Vol.   II. 


sigmoid  perforation  was  broken  out  and  the  attachment  renewed  by 
passing  the  splints  over  the  zygomatic  arch  and  all  the  way  down 
around  the  angle  of  the  jaw. 

The  most  striking  feature  of  these  fastenings  is  the  band  which 
extends  around  the  point  of  the  chin  and  through  the  nasal  passage. 
A  palm  splint  or  strong  cord  was  carried  half  a  dozen  times  around 
and  then  bound  by  loopings  of  the  same  strand,  as  well  shown  in  Figs. 
3  and  4  and  in  several  of  the  plates.  The  binding  of  the  strands  is  in 
cases  very  elaborate  and  neat,  and  again  very  imperfect  and  slovenly. 


Fig. 


3.    Jaw  Fastening  of  Palm-Leaf  Splints. 
Fig.  4.    Looping  of  Jaw  Fastening.    V,. 


In  some  instances  strands  were  carried  through  between  the  teeth, 
inclosing  and  drawing  together  the  inner  and  outer  turns  of  the  fast- 
ening, thus  effectively  tightening  the  tie.  In  cases  considerable 
trouble  has  been  taken  to  make  these  fastenings  neat  and  tasteful  in 
appearance.  Not  only  are  the  looping  and  tying  carefully  done,  but  a 
special  ornamental  feature  is  added,  as  seen  in  Fig.  3   (skull  40,613). 


Fig.  5.    Jaw  Fastening  and  Ornament. 


Fig.  6.    Ornamental  Tie  of  Palm  Fiber.  l/z. 


Aug.  1897.      Preservation,  Etc.,  of  Papuan  Crania. — Holmes.       45 

An  outstanding  strand  is  carried  around  in  front  of  the  tie  proper, 
and  is  held  in  place  by  a  meandering  fillet  which  passes  alternately 
under  the  loopings  of  the  adjacent  parts  of  the  tie  proper  and  the 
outstanding  band.  An  additional  embellishment,  seen  in  a  few  cases, 
consists  of  a  neat  tie  of  palm  fiber  fringed  at  the  ends;  this  encircles 
the  zygomatic  arch  in  front  of  or  behind  the  lateral  jaw  fastenings,  as 
seen  in  Figs.  5  and  6. 

Ornamental  treatment  of  jaw  fastenings  is  common  among  the 
head  hunters  of  Melanesia.  The  work  is  generally  very  neat,  and  many 
of  the  peoples  show  no  little  skill  in  the  making  of  cordage  and  in  the 
employment  of  woven  or  plaited  fastenings  and  decorations. 


EMBELLISHMENT  OF  CRANIA. 


It  is  apparent  that  not  only  were  the  crania  of  this  collection 
cared  for  in  the  most  scrupulous  manner,  but  that  aesthetic  consid- 
erations were  of  importance.  All  the  seventeen  skulls  are  decorated 
with  designs  engraved  on  the  frontal  bone,  and  in  two  cases  (40,613 
and  40,618)  the  figures  extend  back  over  the  coronal  suture  to  the 
parietal  bones.      Viewed  from  the   front  all   are  centrally  placed,  as 


Fig.  7.    Engraved  Design  from  Skull  Fig.  8.     Engraved  Design 

No.  40,613.  y2.  from  Skull  No.  40,610.    %. 

seen  in  the  plates.  In  execution  the  work  is  not  of  a  high  order;  the 
scratchy  lines,  evidently  engraved  in  the  main  with  a  sharp  point, 
straggle  about  in  a  haphazard  way.  My  illustrations,  Figs.  7  to  22, 
engraved  one-half  actual  size,  were  secured  by  working  over  carefully 


46 


Field  Columbian  Museum — Anthropology,   Vol.   II. 


made  rubbings  with  a  fine  pen  point,  thus  preserving,  as  far  as  possi- 
ble, the  scratched  effects.  Some  of  the  lines  are  quite  deep,  but 
none  are  regular  or  even,  while  the  broader  areas  are,  in  many  cases, 
worked  down  slightly  all  over  by  scratching  and  scraping.  All  the 
designs  are  comparatively  simple,  not  embodying  more  than  two  or 


Fig.  9.     Engraved  Design  from  Skull 
No.  40,617.    %. 


Fig.  10.     Engraved  Design  from  Skull 
No.  40,612.    y2. 


three  elements  in  any  case.  It  is  my  impression  that  all  are  signifi- 
cant, being  totems  or  having  their  origin  in  the  crude  mythologic 
conceptions  of  the  people.  Nearly  all  embody  easily  distinguished 
animal  forms.  The  more  formal  examples,  approaching  the  purely 
geometric,  are  also  doubtless  animal  derivatives  or  representations 
of  land,  water  or  other  natural  phenomena. 


Fig.  11.    Engraved  Design  from  Skull 
No.  40,595.    %. 


Fig.  12.     Engraved  Design  from  Skull 
No.  40,618.   y2. 


Aug.  1897.     Preservation,  Etc,  01  Papuan  Crania. — Holmes.      47 


Fig.  13.     Engraved  Design  from  Skull  No.  40,605.    v2 


Fig.  14.     Engraved  Design  from 
Skull  No.  40,614.    ■_,. 


Fig.  15.     Engraved  Design 
from  Skull  No.  40,607.  %. 


Fig.  16.     Engraved  Design  from  Skull 
No.  40,619.   y2. 


c&smz 


Fig   17.     Engraved  Design  from  Skull 
No.  40,609.    'A. 


//W/^' 


Fig.  18.     Engraved  Design  from  Skull         Fig.  19.     Engraved  Design  from  Skull 
No.  40,606.     ',.  No.  40,608.    %. 


48  Field  Columbian  Muslim  —Anthropology,  Vol.    II. 


Fig.  20.     Engraved  Design  from  Skull 
No.  40,620.    K- 


Fig.  21.     Engraved  Design  from 
Skull  No.  40,616.    )/2. 


Fig.  22.     Engraved  Design   from   Skull  No.  40,611.   y2. 


FIELD   COLUMBIAN    MUSEUM. 


ANTHROPOLOGY,  VOL.  II. 


Pl.  XI.    Jaw  and  Teeth  Fastenings.     Female  Skull,  No.  40,607.   %. 


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